AU2020289742B2

AU2020289742B2 - Cartridge, member constituting cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2020289742B2
Application number: AU2020289742A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yukio KUBO; Hiroyuki MUNETSUGU; Masaaki Sato; Koji WADA
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 2014-11-28
Filing date: 2020-12-15
Publication date: 2023-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-27
Also published as: EP4390553A2; BR122018074176B1; RU2768235C2; TWI588627B; US20200249623A1; DE112015005353B4; KR102461609B1; MX2020004579A; GB2588064B; US11307529B2; AU2015354534A1; GB2549026B; US11314199B2; EP3936944A1; TWI833467B; US20230297024A1; AU2019201935A1; KR20170094162A; BR122018074173B1; BR122018074172B1

Abstract

CARTRIDGE, MEMBER CONSTITUTING CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS ABSTRACT A cartridge is disclosed. The cartridge comprises a frame; a developing roller rotatably supported by the frame to permit rotation about an axis of the developing roller. The cartridge also comprises a first lever supported by the frame so as to be movable between a first position relative to the frame and a second position relative to the frame, the first lever including a force receiving portion; and a first spring connected to the frame and first lever. The cartridge also comprises a second lever supported by the frame so as to be movable between a first position relative to the frame and a second position relative to the frame. The second lever includes a force receiving portion. The cartridge also comprises a second spring connected to the frame and second lever; and a coupling member for transmitting a rotational force to the developing roller. The cartridge is configured such that (i) when the force receiving portion of the first lever receives a force in a direction that the first lever moves from its first position to its second position, the first lever receives an urging force from the first spring in a direction that the first lever moves from its second position to its first position, and (ii) when the force receiving portion of the second lever receives a force in a direction that the second lever moves from its first position to its second position, the second lever receives an urging force from the second spring in a direction that the second lever moves from its second position to its first position. The urging force of the first spring is less than the urging force of the second spring. The first lever is supported at a side of the frame at which the coupling member is located, and the second lever is supported at a side of the frame that is opposite to the side at which the coupling member is located. 22374157_1

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE OF THE INVENTION CARTRIDGE, MEMBER CONSTITUTING CARTRIDGE, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

[0001] This application is a divisional application of Australian Patent Application No. 2019201935, filed on March 20, 2019. Australian Patent Application No. 2019201935 is a divisional application of Australian Patent Application No. 2015354534, a National Phase Entry of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2015/083463, filed on November 27, 2015. International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2015/083463 claimed the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2014-242577 filed November 28, 2014, 2014-242602 filed November 28, 2014, 2014-242578 filed November 28, 2014, 2014242601 filed November 28, 2014 and 2015 231356 filed November 27, 2015. The content of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-242577, Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-242602, Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-242578, Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-242601, Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-231356, Australian Patent Application No. 2015354534 and Australian Patent Application No. 2019201935 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0001a] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a cartridge detachably mounted on an apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus, and members constituting the cartridge.

[00021 An image forming apparatus forms images on a recording medium. Examples of image forming apparatuses include electronic photocopiers, electrophotography printers (e.g., later beam printers, LED printers, etc.), facsimile devices, word processors, and so forth.

[00031 A cartridge is at least one of an electrophotography photosensitive drum that is an image bearing member (hereinafter referred to as photosensitive drum) and a process unit acting on the photosensitive drum (e.g., a developer bearing member (hereinafter referred to as developing roller)) that has been formed into a cartridge. The cartridge is detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus. Cartridges include those where a photosensitive drum and developing roller have been integrally formed into a cartridge, and those where a photosensitive drum and developing roller are formed into separate cartridges. Particularly, the former having a photosensitive drum and developing roller is referred to as a process cartridge. Further, in the latter arrangement, that having a photosensitive la drum is referred to as a drum cartridge, and that having a developing roller is referred to as a developing cartridge.

[00041 The image forming apparatus main body is the part of the image forming apparatus remaining after removal of the cartridge(s).

Background Art

[00051 Conventionally, a cartridge system has been employed in image forming

apparatuses, where process cartridges, drum cartridges, and developing cartridges

are detachably mounted to the apparatus main body of the image forming

apparatus. The system of these cartridges enables the user him/herself to

perform maintenance of image forming apparatuses without depending on a

serviceman, which has markedly improved operability.

[0006] Accordingly, the cartridge system is in widespread use in image forming

apparatuses.

[0007] Further, there is a contact developing system, where the photosensitive

drum and developing roller are brought into contact to performed developing,

when forming an image. There has been proposed a developing cartridge

having a pressing unit in the developing cartridge, for bringing the photosensitive

drum and the developing roller into contact (e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.

2011-39564 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-26541).

100081 Now, the photosensitive drum and developing roller in a contact developing system preferably are spaced when not forming images, from the

perspective of stability of image quality, and longevity of the photosensitive drum

and developing roller.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0009]

PTL 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-39564

PTL 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-26541

[00101 In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-39564 and Japanese Patent Laid

Open No. 2010-26541, the pressing unit is a configuration operated from the

apparatus main body only in the direction of the photosensitive drum and the developing roller coming closer. In a case of spacing the photosensitive drum and the developing roller from each other, there is the need to provide a spacing unit to move the developing roller so that the photosensitive drum and the developing unit are spaced from each other, at a different position from the pressing unit. The developing unit is moved at this time against the pressing pressure pressing the developing roller against the photosensitive drum.

[00111 Also, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-26541, a configuration is provided where a pressing unit is integrated in the axial direction of the developing roller. In doing so, the

pressing unit has to be highly precise and highly rigid, in order to make the pressing state between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller uniform in the axial direction of the

developing roller. That is to say, the pressing unit becomes more complicated in order to move

the developing roller as to the photosensitive drum and press against the photosensitive drum with high precision.

Summary of Invention

[0011a] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more disadvantages of existing arrangements.

[00121 Disclosed are arrangements which seek to enable movement of the developer bearing member in a precise manner.

100131 According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part

movably supported by the frame and movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the

movable part, wherein the movable part includes a first force receiving part that receives force

from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the first position to the second

position, and a second force receiving part that receives force from the apparatus main assembly, in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position, and wherein when the movable part receives force from the apparatus main assembly at the first force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from the elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first position.

[00141According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to enable movement of the developer bearing member in a precise manner.

[0014a] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that

is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge

comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part

movably supported by the frame so as to be movable to a first position and to a second position

relative to the frame; an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part, and to

urge the movable part; and an electrode portion for electrically connecting to the apparatus main

assembly, wherein the movable part includes a force receiving part that receives force in a

direction of moving from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the movable part receives force at the force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part

receives urging force from the elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the

second position to the first position, and wherein the surface of the electrode portion is exposed

from the cartridge, and intersects a movement direction in which the force receiving part of the

movable part moves when the movable part moves from the first position to the second position.

10014b] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that

comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a first movable part

and a second movable part movably supported by the frame, and each independently movable to

a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and a first elastic part provided

4a

between the frame and the first movable part to urge the first movable part, and a second elastic

part provided between the frame and the second movable part, and to urged the second movable

part, wherein the first and second movable parts each include a force receiving part that receives

force in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the first and second movable parts receive the force at the force receiving part and are at the second

positions, the first and second movable parts respectively receive urging forces from the first

and second elastic parts in a direction of moving the first and second movable parts from the

second position to the first position, and wherein the first movable part has a first protrusion

protruding beyond the frame, and the second movable part has a second protrusion protruding

beyond the frame.

10014c] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge

and a second movable part supported by the frame so as to be independently movable to a first

position and to a second position relative to the frame; a first elastic part provided between the

frame and the first movable part to urge the first movable part, and a second elastic part provided between the frame and the second movable part to urge the second movable part; and a

drive input member for receiving input of rotational force to rotate the developing roller,

wherein the first and second movable parts each include a force receiving part that receives external force from the apparatus main assembly in a direction of moving from the first position

to the second position, wherein, when the first and second movable parts receive force at the force receiving part and are at the second position, the first and second movable parts receive

urging force from the first and second elastic parts in a direction of moving the first and second

movable parts from the second position to the first position, and wherein the first movable part

is supported at a side of the frame at which the drive input member is disposed, and the second movable part is supported at a side of the frame at which the drive input member is not disposed,

with respect to the

4b

rotational axis direction of the developing roller, wherein the urging force of the first elastic part

being smaller than the urging force of the second elastic part.

[0014d] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part

movably supported by the frame so as to be movable to move to a first position and to a second

position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable

part to urge the movable part, wherein the frame has a developer accommodation part that accommodates developer, wherein the movable part is rotatably supported by the frame, and

includes a force receiving part that receives force in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the movable part receives force at the force receiving part

and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from the elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first position, and wherein

a rotational center of the movable part is disposed at a position overlapping the developer

accommodation part, as viewed in the rotational axis direction of the developing roller.

[0014e] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge

comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part that

supported by the frame so as to be movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part, wherein the movable part includes a force receiving part that receives force in a

direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a supported part rotatably

supported by the frame, wherein, when the movable part receives force at the force receiving

part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from the elastic part in

a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first position, and

wherein a distance between the supported part and a part receiving urging force from the elastic

4c

part of the movable part is shorter than a distance between the supported part and the force

receiving part as viewed in the rotational axis direction of the developing roller.

[0014f| According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part

movably supported by the frame so as to be movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to

urge the movable part, wherein the movable part includes a force receiving part that receives

force in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a protrusion that protrudes beyond the frame, wherein, when the movable part receives force at the force

receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from the elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first position, and wherein the protrusion has a portion curved toward the side of the developing

roller.

10014g] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge

urge the movable part; and a drive input member for receiving input of rotational force to rotate the developing roller, wherein the frame has a recording medium contact part capable of being

contacted by a recording medium conveyed through the interior of the apparatus main assembly,

wherein the movable part includes a force receiving part that receives force in a direction of

moving from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the movable part receives

force at the force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging

force from the elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to

the first position, wherein the developing roller is disposed at one end side of the frame, and the

4d

first force receiving part of the movable part is disposed at another end side of the frame, with

respect to a first direction parallel to a straight line connecting a rotational center of the

developing roller and a rotational center of the drive input member, as viewed in a rotational

axis direction of the developing roller, and wherein the recording medium contact part is disposed closer to the developing roller than the first force receiving part of the movable part,

with respect to the first direction, as viewed in the rotational axis direction of the developing

roller.

10014h] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge

comprising: a photosensitive member; a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing

roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame so as to be movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part, wherein the movable part includes a first force

receiving part that receives force in a direction of moving from the first position to the second

position, and a second force receiving part that receives force in a direction of moving from the second position to the first position, wherein the developing roller is brought into contact with

the photosensitive member by the movable part receiving the force at the first force receiving part and moving to the second position, and the movable part receives urging force from the

elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first

position, and wherein the developing roller spaces form the photosensitive member by the

movable part receiving force and the second force receiving part and moving to the first position.

[00141] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge

comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a first force receiving

part provided only at one end of the cartridge with respect to a direction of a rotational axis of

the developing roller to receive force; and a second force receiving part provided only at

4e

another end of the cartridge with respect to the direction of the rotational axis of the developing

roller to receive force, wherein the direction in which the first force receiving part receives

force, and the direction in which the second force receiving part receives force are different.

[0014j] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge

relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part, and to urge the movable part, wherein the movable part includes a force receiving part that receives

force in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and a supported part that is rotatably supported by the frame, wherein, when the movable part receives force at the

force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from the elastic part at a urging force receiving part, in a direction of moving the movable part from

the second position to the first position, and wherein a distance between the force receiving part and the urging force receiving part is longer than a distance between the force receiving part and

the supported part as viewed in the rotational axis direction of the developing roller.

10014k] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part

movably supported by the frame so as to be movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge

the movable part; a drive input member for receiving input of rotational force to rotate the

developing roller; and an urging member for urging the drive input member, wherein the

movable part includes a force receiving part that receives force in a direction of moving from

the first position to the second position, wherein, when the movable part receives force at the

force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from

the elastic part, in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first

4f

position, and wherein an angle formed by a urging direction of the movable part by the elastic

part, and a plane orthogonal to a urging direction of the drive input member by the urging

member, is -45 degrees or greater and +45 degrees or smaller.

[001411According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge

urge the movable part; and a drive input member for receiving input of rotational force to rotate

the developing roller; wherein the movable part includes a force receiving part that receives

force in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, wherein, when the

movable part receives force at the force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable

part receives urging force from the elastic part, in a direction of moving the movable part from

the second position to the first position, and wherein the movable part is provided only at a side

of the frame where the drive input member is not provided with respect to the direction of the rotational axis of the developing roller.

10014m According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that

slidably supported by the frame so as to be movable to a first position and to a second position

relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to

urge the movable part; wherein the movable part includes a force receiving part that receives

force in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, and wherein, when

the movable part receives force at the force receiving part and is at the second position, the

movable part receives urging force from the elastic part, in a direction of moving the movable

part from the second position to the first position.

4g

[0014n] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus, the cartridge comprising: a developing roller; a frame supporting the developing roller; a movable part movably supported by the frame so as to be movable to a first position and to a second position relative to the frame; and an elastic part provided between the frame and the movable part to urge the movable part, wherein the frame includes a restricting part that contacts the movable part being at the first position, wherein the movable part includes a force receiving part that receives force in a direction of moving from the first position to the second position, a supporting part rotatably supporting by the frame, and a restricted part that contacts the restricting part, wherein, when the movable part receives force at the force receiving part and is at the second position, the movable part receives urging force from the elastic part in a direction of moving the movable part from the second position to the first position, and wherein a distance between the force receiving part and the restricted part is longer than a distance between the force receiving part and the supporting part as viewed in the direction of the rotational axis of the developing roller.

[00140] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a frame member constituting a frame of a cartridge that is mountable to an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus and has a developing roller and a coupling member, the frame member comprising: a first hole for disposing the developing roller therein, a second hole for disposing the coupling member therein, a supporting part rotatably supporting a movable part, and a contact part to be contacted by an elastic part urging the movable part.

[00 1 4 p] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge comprising: a frame; a developing roller rotatably supported by the frame to permit rotation about an axis of the developing roller; a first lever supported by the frame so as to be movable between a first position relative to the frame and a second position relative to the frame, the first lever including a force receiving portion; a first spring connected to the frame and first lever; a second lever supported by the frame so as to be movable between a first position relative to the frame and a second position relative to the frame, the second lever including a force receiving portion; a second spring connected to the frame and second lever; and a coupling member for transmitting a rotational force to the developing roller, wherein the cartridge is configured such that (i) when the force receiving portion of the first lever receives a force in a direction that the first lever moves from its first position to its second position, the first lever receives an urging force from the first spring in a direction that the first lever moves from its second position to its first position, and (ii) when the force receiving portion of the second lever receives a force in a

4h

direction that the second lever moves from its first position to its second position, the second lever receives an urging force from the second spring in a direction that the second lever moves from its second position to its first position, wherein the urging force of the first spring is less than the urging force of the second spring, and wherein the first lever is supported at a side of the frame at which the coupling member is located, and the second lever is supported at a side of the frame that is opposite to the side at which the coupling member is located.

[0014q] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge comprising: a developing roller rotatable about a rotational axis thereof; a frame configured to support the developing roller; a lever connected to the frame, the lever being movable relative to the frame, and a part of the lever protruding beyond the frame; a spring capable of being compressed in response to a movement of the lever relative to the frame; and a coupling member configured to transmit a rotational force to the developing roller, the coupling member being rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, and the coupling member being movable relative to the frame in a direction of its rotational axis, a memory board; and an electrode portion connected to the memory board, wherein when the cartridge is oriented with the lever and the electrode portion at a bottom portion of the cartridge, the protruding part of the lever protrudes downward beyond the frame, and wherein, as viewed in a rotational axis direction of the developing roller, the coupling member is positioned between the spring and the developing roller.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0015] Fig. 1 includes side views of a developing cartridge. Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a developing cartridge and drum cartridge. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a driving side of a developing cartridge. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a non-driving side of a developing cartridge. Fig. 6 includes disassembled perspective views of a driving side of a developing cartridge. Fig. 7 includes disassembled perspective views of a non-driving side of a developing cartridge. Fig. 8 includes perspective views of a drive input part of a developing cartridge. Fig. 9 includes explanatory diagrams of the periphery of a driving-side side cover. Fig. 10 includes explanatory diagrams of the periphery of a driving-side side cover. Fig. 11 includes explanatory diagrams of attitude of a coupling member. Fig. 12 includes explanatory diagrams of attitude of a coupling member.

Fig. 13 includes disassembled perspective views of a bearing member and

a coupling member.

Fig. 14 includes perspective views of a drive input part of a developing

cartridge.

Fig. 15 includes a cross-sectional view and perspective views of the

periphery of a coupling member.

Fig. 16 includes perspective views of a drum cartridge.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a non-driving side of an apparatus main

body and cartridges.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a driving side of an apparatus main body

and cartridges.

Fig. 19 includes side views at a driving side of a developing cartridge.

Fig. 20 includes perspective views of a driving side swing guide.

Fig. 21 includes side views of a driving side, illustrating a process of

mounting a developing cartridge to an apparatus main body.

Fig. 22 includes side views of a driving side of a developing cartridge

mounted to an apparatus main body.

Fig. 23 includes cross-sectional views of a drive input part of a

developing cartridge.

Fig. 24 is a front view of a developing cartridge.

Fig. 25 includes perspective views of a driving-side side plate.

Fig. 26 includes perspective views of a side plate at a non-driving side.

Fig. 27 includes side views at a driving side of a developing cartridge and

driving-side swing guide.

Fig. 28 includes side views at a driving side of a developing cartridge and

driving-side swing guide.

Fig. 29 includes side views at a non-driving side of a developing cartridge and non-driving-side swing guide.

Fig. 30 includes cross-sectional views of the periphery of a coupling

member.

Fig. 31 includes side views at a driving side of a developing cartridge and

driving-side swing guide.

Fig. 32 includes a side views at a driving side of a developing cartridge

and driving-side swing guide.

Fig. 33 includes perspective views of a non-driving-side bearing.

Fig. 34 includes cross-sectional diagrams of the periphery of a coupling

member.

Fig. 35 includes perspective views at a non-driving side of an apparatus

main body.

Fig. 36 is a side view at a non-driving side of an apparatus main body and

cartridges.

Fig. 37 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developing cartridge.

Fig. 38 includes side views illustrating a non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever, and a memory board.

Fig. 39 is a side view illustrating a memory board.

Fig. 40 is a side view illustrating a non-driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever, and a memory board.

Fig. 41 includes side views illustrating a driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever.

Fig. 42 includes side views at a driving side of a developing cartridge

mounted to an apparatus main body.

Fig. 43 includes side views at a driving side of a developing cartridge

mounted to an apparatus main body.

Fig. 44 is a schematic view illustrating the position of a coontacting/spacing lever and a developing pressure spring.

Fig. 45 includes a front view and a rear view illustrating a developing side

cover.

Fig. 46 includes perspective views illustrating a developing side cover.

Fig. 47 includes a front view and a rear view illustrating a driving-side

developing bearing.

Fig. 48 includes perspective views illustrating a driving-side developing

bearing.

Fig. 49 includes side views at a driving side of a developing cartridge

mounted to an apparatus main body.

Fig. 50 is a perspective view of a developing cartridge.

Fig. 51 includes a side view at a driving side and a side view at a non

driving side, of a developing cartridge mounted to an apparatus main body.

Fig. 52 includes a side view at a driving side and a side view at a non

driving side, of a developing cartridge mounted to an apparatus main body.

Fig. 53 is a side view at a driving side of a developing cartridge.

Fig. 54 is a side view at a driving side of a developing cartridge.

Fig. 55 includes perspective views at a driving side of a developing

cartridge.

Fig. 56 includes a side view and cross-sectional view at a driving side of a

developing cartridge.

Fig. 57 includes a side view at a driving side and a side view at a non

driving side of a developing cartridge mounted to an apparatus main body.

Description of Embodiments

[00161 The cartridge and electrophotography image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described by way of drawings. The electrophotography image forming apparatus will be described by way of an example of a laser beam printer main body, and a drum cartridge and developing cartridge detachably mountable to the laser beam printer main body. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the drum cartridge and the developing cartridge is a direction generally parallel to a photosensitive drum rotational axis L and a developing roller rotational axis LO (the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive drum 10 and developing roller). Note that the photosensitive drum rotational axis LI and the developing roller rotational axis

LO are a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording

medium. The transverse direction of the drum cartridge and the developing

cartridge is a direction generally orthogonal to the photosensitive drum rotational

axis LI and developing roller rotational axis LO. The direction of

mounting/detaching the drum cartridge and developing cartridge to/from the laser

beam printer main body is the transverse direction of each cartridge. Note that

the symbols in the description are for referencing the drawings, and do not restrict

the configuration. A side view in the description of the present embodiment is a

diagram illustrating a state viewed from a direction parallel to the developing

roller rotational axis LO.

«First Embodiment»

(1) Overall Description of Image Forming Apparatus

[00171 First, the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention has been applied will be described with

reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the image forming

apparatus.

10018] The image forming apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 forms images on a recording medium (sheet) 2 by an electrophotography image forming processing

using a developer t, in accordance with image information communicated from an external device such as a personal computer or the like. The image forming apparatus has a developing cartridge B1 and a drum cartridge C provided to an apparatus main body Al so as to be capable of mounting and detaching by a user.

Examples of the recording medium 2 includes recording paper, label sheets, OHP

sheets, cloth, and so forth. The developing cartridge B1 has a developing roller

13 and so forth as a developer bearing member, and the drum cartridge C has the

photosensitive drum 10 and a charging roller 11 and so forth as an image bearing

member.

[00191 Regarding the photosensitive drum 10, the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 11, by application of voltage

from the apparatus main body Al. The charged photosensitive drum 10 is then

irradiated by laser light L in accordance with image information from optical unit

1, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10 in

accordance with image information. This electrostatic latent image is developed

is by developer t, by a later-described developing unit, thereby forming a developer

image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

[0020] On the other hand, the recording medium 2 accommodated in a sheet feed tray 4 is separated and fed one sheet at a time, being regulated by a sheet feed

roller 3a and a separating pad 3b in pressure contact therewith, synchronously

with formation of the developer image. The recording medium 2 is then

conveyed by a conveyance guide 3d to a transfer roller 6 that serves as a transfer.

The transfer roller 6 is biased so as to come into contact with the surface of the

photosensitive drum 10.

10021] Next, the recording medium 2 passes a transfer nip portion 6a formed by

the photosensitive drum 10 and transfer roller 6. Voltage of polarity inverse to

that of the developer is applied to the transfer roller 6 at this time, whereby the

developer image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is transferred to the recording medium 2.

100221 The recording medium 2 on which the developer image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing unit 5 restricted by a conveyance guide 3f.

The fixing unit 5 includes a drive roller 5a, and a fixing roller 5c in which is built

a heater 5b. Heat and pressure are applied to the recording medium 2 as it

passes a nip portion 5d formed by the drive roller 5a and fixing roller 5c, thereby

fixing the developer image, transferred onto the recording medium 2, on the

recording medium 2. Thus, the image is formed on the recording medium 2.

10023] Thereafter, the recording medium 2 is conveyed by a discharge roller pair 3g, and discharged to a discharge part 3h.

(2) Description of Electrophotography Image Forming Process

[0024] Next, an electrophotography image forming process to which an embodiment of the present invention has been applied will be described with

reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the

is developing cartridge Bi and the drum cartridge C.

[0025] The developing cartridge B Ihas the developing roller 13 serving as a

developing unit, a developing blade 15, and so forth, in a developing container 16,

as illustrated in Fig. 3. The developing cartridge B Iis a developing device that

has been formed into a cartridge, and is detachably mounted to the apparatus

main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0026] The drum cartridge C also has the photosensitive drum 10, charging roller

11, and so forth in a cleaning frame (photosensitive member supporting frame) 21.

The drum cartridge C also is detachably mounted to the apparatus main body of

the image forming apparatus.

[0027] The developer t stored in a developer accommodation part 16a of the

developing container 16 is fed out from an opening 16b of the developing

container 16 to a developing chamber I6c, by a developer conveyance member

17 rotatably supported by the developing container 16 rotating in the direction of

anarrowX17. The developing roller 13 having a built-in magnet roller 12 is

provided in the developing container 16. Specifically, the developing roller 13

is configured of a shaft part 13e and rubber part 13d. The shaft part 13e is an

electroconductive slender cylindrical object of aluminum or the like, and the

middle part in the longitudinal direction thereof is covered by the rubber part 13d

(see Figs. 6(a) and 6(b)). Now, the rubber part 13d covers the shaft part 3e so

that the external shape thereof is concentric with the shaft part I3e. The

developing roller 13 draws the developer t in the developing chamber 16c to the

surface of the developing roller 13 by the magnetism of the magnet roller 12.

The developing blade 15 is configured or a supporting member 15a made up of a

metal plate, and an elastic member 15b made of urethane rubber, a SUS plate, or

the like, with the elastic member 15b being disposed so as to be in elastic contact

with the developing roller 13 at a certain contact pressure. The developing

roller 13 rotates in a rotation direction X5, which regulates the amount of

developer t adhering to the surface of the developing roller 13, and a frictional

charge is imparted to the developer t. This forms a developer layer on the

surface of the developing roller 13. Thus, the developing roller 13 that has

received application of voltage from the apparatus main body Al is then rotated

in the rotational direction X5 in a state of being in contact with the photosensitive

drum 10, whereby developer t can be supplied to a developing region on the

photosensitive drum 10.

[00281 In a case of a contact developing system as in the present embodiment,

there is a concern that deformation of the rubber part 13b of the developing roller

13 may occur if a state is maintained where the developing roller 13 such as

illustrated in Fig. 3 is constantly in contact with the photosensitive drum 10.

Accordingly, the developing roller 13 preferably is spaced from the photosensitive drum 10 when not developing.

[0029] The charging roller I Irotatably supported by the cleaning frame 21, and biased in the direction of the photosensitive drum 10, is provided in contact with

the peripheral face of the photosensitive drum 10. The detailed configuration

will be described later. The charging roller I uniformly charges the surface of

the photosensitive drum 10 by application of voltage from the apparatus main

body Al. The voltage applied to the charging roller I I is set to a value where

the potential difference between the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and the

charging roller 11 is equal to or greater than discharge charging voltage, and

specifically, DC voltage of -1300V is applied as charging bias. Atthistime,the

surface of the photosensitive drum 10 is uniformly charged by contact to charging

potential (dark potential) of -700 V. The charging roller I I is driven and rotates

in accordance with rotations of the photosensitive drum 10 in the present example

(described in detail later). The electrostatic latent image on the surface of the

is photosensitive drum 10 is formed by laser light L from the optical unit 1.

Thereafter, the developer t is transferred in accordance with the electrostatic

latent image on the photosensitive drum 10, visualizing the electrostatic latent

image, thus forming a developer image on the photosensitive drum 10.

(3) Configuration Description of Cleanerless System

[0030JNext, a cleanerless system according to the present example will be

described.

100311 A so-called cleanerless system, where no cleaning member to remove transfer residual toner 2 remaining on the photosensitive drum 10 without being

transferred is provided, is exemplified in the present embodiment.

[00321 The photosensitive drum 10 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow

C5, as illustrated in Fig. 3. There is a gap portion on the upstream side of a

charging nip portion I la where the charging roller 11 and photosensitive drum 10 come into contact (upstream gap portion 11b), as viewed from rotational direction

CS of the photosensitive drum 10. The transfer residual toner t2 remaining on

the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 after the transfer process is charged to

the same negative polarity as the photosensitive drum, by discharge at this

upstream gap portion 1lb. At this time, the surface of the photosensitive drum

10ischargedto-700V. The negatively-charged transfer residual tonert2

passes the charging nip portion 1I a without adhering to the charging roller 11,

due to the relationship in potential difference thereat (surface potential of

photosensitive drum 10 = -700 V, potential of charging roller I1 = -1300 V).

[0033] The transfer residual toner t2 that has passed through the charging nip

portion Ila reaches a laser irradiation position d. The transfer residual toner t2

is not of an amount sufficient to shield the laser light L from the optical unit, and

accordingly does not affect the process of creating the electrostatic latent image

on the photosensitive drum 10. The transfer residual toner t that has passed the

is laser irradiation position d and also is at non-exposed portions (the surface of the

photosensitive drum 10 where laser irradiation has not been performed) is

recovered by electrostatic force to the developing roller 13, at a developing nip

portion 13k which is where the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum

10 come into contact. On the other hand, transfer residual toner 2 at exposed

portions (the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 where laser irradiation has

been performed) is not recovered by electrostatic force but continues to exist on

the photosensitive drum 10. However, some of the transfer residual toner t2

may be recovered due to physical force due to the circumferential speed

difference between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10.

[00341 The transfer residual toner t2 that is not transferred onto paper but remains

on the photosensitive drum 10 is this generally recovered to the developing

container 16. The transfer residual toner t2 recovered to the developing container 16 is mixed with the developer t remaining in the developing container

16 and used.

[0035] The following two configurations are employed in the present embodiment to enable the transfer residual toner t2 to pass through the charging

nip portion 11a without adhering to the charging roller 11. A first is that an

optical destaticizing member 8 is provided between the transfer roller 6 and the

charging roller 11. The optical destaticizing member 8 is situated on the

upstream side of the charging nip portion IIa in the rotational direction of the

photosensitive drum 10 (arrow C5). Optical destaticizing of the surface of the

photosensitive drum 10 that has passed the transfer nip portion 6a is performed,

in order to perform stable discharging at the upstream gap portion I l b. By

setting the potential of the photosensitive drum 10 before charging to around -150

V in the entire longitudinal region by this optical destaticizing member 8,

uniform discharge can be performed, and the transfer residual toner t2 can be

uniformly negatively charged when charging.

[0036JThe second is that the charging roller I Iis driven rotationally so as to

have a predetermined circumferential difference as to the photosensitive drum 10.

While almost all toner is negatively charged due to the discharge as described

above, there is some transfer residual toner t2 remaining that was not completely

negatively charged, and this transfer residual toner t2 may adhere to the charging

roller I1 at the charging nip portion 1Ia. Rotationally driving the charging

roller I Iand photosensitive drum 10 is a predetermined circumferential speed

difference therebetween enables such transfer residual toner t2 to be negatively

changed by friction between the photosensitive drum 10 and charging roller 11.

This is effective in suppressing adhesion of the transfer residual toner t2 to the

charging roller I1. A charging roller gear 69 (Fig. 16(b), details will be

described later) is provided on one end of the charging roller I I in the longitudinal direction, with the charging roller gear 69 engaging a driving side flange 24 (Fig. 16(b), details will be described later) provided on one end of the photosensitive drum 10 in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the charging roller 11 also is rotationally driven in conjunction with the rotational driving of the photosensitive drum 10. The circumferential speed of the surface of the charging roller 1 is set to be around 105 to 120% as to the circumferential speed of the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

(4) Description of Configuration of Developing Cartridge BI

[0037] Next, the configuration of the developing cartridge B Ito which an

embodiment of the present invention has been applied will be described. Note

that in the following description, one end side of the developing cartridge B Iin

the longitudinal direction where rotational force is transmitted from the apparatus

main body Al to the developing cartridge B Iwill be referred to as driving side".

The other side thereof is the other end of the developing cartridge B1, which will

be referred to as the "non-driving side". Fig. 4 is a perspective explanatory view

of the developing cartridge B Ias viewed from the driving side. Fig. 5 is a

perspective explanatory view of the developing cartridge B Ias viewed from the

non-driving side. Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) are perspective explanatory diagrams from

the driving side (Fig. 6(a)) and a perspective explanatory diagram from the non

driving side (Fig. 6(b)), with the driving side of the developing cartridge BI

disassembled. Figs. 7(a) and 7(b) are perspective explanatory diagrams from

the non-driving side (Fig. 7(a)) and a perspective explanatory diagram from the

driving side (Fig. 7(b)), with the non-driving side of the developing cartridge BI

disassembled.

100381 The developing cartridge Bi has the developing roller 13, developing blade 15, and so forth, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The developing blade 15 has a driving-side end portion 15at and non-driving-side end portion 15a2 of in the longitudinal direction of the supporting member 15a fixed to the developing container 16 by a screw 51 and a screw 52. A driving-side developing bearing

36 and a non-driving-side developing bearing 46 are disposed on the respective

longitudinal-direction ends of the developing container 16. The developing

roller 13 has a driving-side end portion 13a fit to a hole 36a of the driving-side

developing bearing 36. A non-driving-side end portion 13c is fit to a supporting

part 46f of the non-driving-side developing bearing 46. Thus, the developing

roller 13 is rotatably supported by the developing container 16. A developing

roller gear 29 is concentrically disposed with the developing roller 13 on the

driving-side end portion 13a of the developing roller 13, further on the outside in

the longitudinal direction from the driving-side developing bearing 36, so that the

developing roller 13 and the developing roller gear 29 are integrally rotatable (see

Fig. 4). The developing roller gear 29 is a helical gear.

[0039] The driving-side developing bearing 36 rotatably supports a drive input

gear 27 at the outer side in the longitudinal direction thereof. The drive input

gear 27 and the developing roller gear 29 mesh. The drive input gear 27 also is

a helical gear. The drive input gear 27 has more teeth than the developing roller

gear 29 has teeth.

[00401 A coupling member 180 is also provided concentrically with the drive

input gear 27.

100411 A developing side cover 34 is provided at the farthest end of the developing cartridge B Iat the driving side, covering the drive input gear 27 and

so forth from the outside in the longitudinal direction. The frame of the

developing cartridge, made up of the developing container 16, non-driving-side

developing bearing 46, driving-side developing bearing 36, and developing side

cover 34, is referred to as a developing frame. Further, the coupling member

180 protrudes outwards in the longitudinal direction through a hole 34a in the

developing side cover 34. The coupling member 180 serving as a drive input

member is configured to engage a main body side drive member 100 provided to

the apparatus main body Al, with rotational force being transmitted (input),

which will be described in detail later. The configuration is such that the

rotational force is transmitted to a rotational force reception part 27d1 (see Fig.

8(b)) and rotational force reception part 27d2 (omitted from illustration) of the

drive input gear 27, via rotational force transmission parts 180c1 and 180c2 of the

coupling member 180. Consequently, the configuration is such that the

rotational force input to the coupling member 180 is transmitted to the developing

roller 13 serving as a rotating member, via the drive input gear 27 and the

developing roller gear 29.

[00421 A first movable member 120 is provided to the driving-side developing bearing 36. The first movable member 120 is configured including a driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 70 serving as a first main part, and a driving-side

developing pressure spring 71 serving as a first elastic part (a part or member that

elastically deforms). The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is a member

that receives elastic force of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71.

[0043JNote that the first main part and the first elastic part are configured as

separate members in the present embodiment. However, the first main part and

the first elastic part may be integrally formed in the first movable member 120,

and the configuration thereof is not restricted. Further, a second movable

member 121 is provided to the non-driving-side developing bearing 46. The

second movable member 121 is configured including a non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 serving as a second main part, and a non-driving

side developing pressure spring 73 serving as a second elastic part (a part or

member that elastically deforms). The non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is a member that receives elastic force of the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73.

[00441 Note that the second main part and the second elastic part are configured

as separate members in the present embodiment. However, the second main

part and the second elastic part may be integrally formed in the second movable

member 121, and the configuration thereof is not restricted.

[0045J Details will be described later.

[0046J The coupling member 180 and peripheral configurations will be described

below in detail.

[00471 The coupling member 180, the drive input gear 27, and a coupling spring

185 are provided on the driving side of the developing cartridge Bi, as illustrated

in Figs. 6(a) and 6(b). The coupling member 180 engages the main body side

drive member 100 provided to the apparatus main body A 1, and rotational force

is transmitted. Specifically, the coupling member 180 is configured primarily

including rotational force receiving parts 180al and 180a2, a supported part 180b,

rotational force transmitting parts 180cl and 180c2, and a guided part 180d, as

illustrated in Fig. 8(b). The rotational force receiving parts 180al and 180a2 of

the coupling member 180 are disposed further outside in the longitudinal

direction from a driving-side end portion 27a of the drive input gear 27 (see Figs.

8(a)and8(b)). When the main body side drive member 100 rotates in the

direction of arrow X6 (hereinafter, forward rotation X direction) around

rotational axis L4, a rotational force applying part I00al of the main body side

drive member 100 comes into contact with the rotational force receiving part

180al. Also, a rotational force applying part 100a2 of the main body side drive

member 100 comes into contact with the rotational force receiving part 180a2.

Thus, the rotational force is transmitted from the main body side drive member

100 to the coupling member 180. The supported part 180bof the coupling

member 180 is generally spherical in shape, as illustrated in Figs. 8(b) and 8(e),

with the supported part 180b being supported by a supporting part 27b on an

inner circumferential face of the drive input gear 27. The rotational force

transmitting parts 180c Iand 180c2 are provided on the supported part I80b of

the coupling member 180. The rotational force transmitting part 180cl comes

into contact with the rotational force reception part 27d Iof the drive input gear

27. In the same way, the rotational force transmitting part 180c2 comes into

contact with the rotational force reception part 27d2 of the drive input gear 27.

Accordingly, the drive input gear 27 is driven by the coupling member 180 that

has been driven by the main body side drive member 100, so the drive input gear

27 rotates in the forward rotation direction X6 around the rotational axis L3.

10048] Now, the rotational axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100 and the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 are set so as to be concentric, as

illustrated in Fig. 8(c). However, there are cases where the rotational axis L4 of

the main body side drive member 100 and the rotational axis L3 of the drive input

gear 27 are slightly shifted in parallel from being concentric, due to variance in

dimensions of parts and so forth, as illustrated in Fig. 8(d). In such a case, the

rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 rotates in a state of being inclined

with respect to the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27, and rotational

force is transmitted from the main body side drive member 100 to the coupling

member 180. Further, there also are cases where the rotational axis L3 of the

drive input gear 27 is shifted from being concentric as to the rotational axis L4 of

the main body side drive member 100, with an angle therebetween. Inthiscase, rotational force is transmitted from the main body side drive member 100 to the

coupling member 180 in a state where the rotational axis L2 of the coupling

member 180 is inclined with respect to the rotational axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100.

[00491 As illustrated in Fig. 8(a), a gear portion 27c that is a helical gear or a spur

gear is integrally formed with the drive input gear 27, concentrically with the

rotational axis U of the drive input gear 27 (a helical gear is used in the present

embodiment). The gear portion 27c meshes with a gear portion 29a of the

developing roller gear 29. The developing roller gear 29 rotates integrally with

the developing roller 13, and accordingly rotational force of the drive input gear

27 is transmitted to the developing roller 13 via the developing roller gear 29.

The developing roller 13 rotates in rotational direction X5 around a rotational

axis L9.

<Configuration of Electrode Portion at Non-Driving Side of Developing

Cartridge>

10050] Next, a memory board 47 serving as a contact part, and an electrode portion 47a serving as an exposed face, that are provided at the non-driving side

is end portion of the developing cartridge BI, will be described with reference to

Figs. 33(a) and 33(b). The memory board 47 is provided on the outer

circumference side of the non-driving-side developing bearing 46, and to the side

of the supporting part 46f that rotatably supports the developing roller 13 as

viewed from the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72. The memory

board 47 stores the manufacturing lot and property information of the developing

cartridge B1, which is used for image formation by the apparatus main body A1.

The electrode portion 47a, made of metal such as iron, copper, or the like, is

provided to the memory board 47, and when performing image formation,

electrically connects to the apparatus main body Al via the memory board 47 to

perform communication.

100511 Both ends of the memory board 47 are inserted into a first substrate

supporting part 46m and a second substrate supporting part 46n provided on the non-driving-side developing bearing 46. The memory board 47 and the first substrate supporting part 46m and second substrate supporting part 46n are fixed by press fitting, adhesion, or the like.

[0052JThe memory board 47 is provided with multiple electrode portions 47a.

s The direction in which these multiple electrode portions 47a are arrayed, and the

direction of insertion of the memory board 47 to the first substrate supporting part

46m and second substrate supporting part 46n is the same direction.

10053] Next, the configuration of the developing side cover 34 provided to the driving side end portion of the developing cartridge B1, and a coupling lever 55

will be described in detail Figs. 9(a) through 9(d) area perspective explanatory

diagram and side views illustrating the way in which the coupling lever 55 and a

coupling lever spring 56 are assembled to the developing side cover 34.

[0054] The coupling lever 55 and coupling lever spring 56 are assembled on the inner side of the developing side cover 34 in the longitudinal direction.

Specifically, a cylindrically-shaped lever positioning boss 34m of the developing

side cover 34 and a hole 55c of the coupling lever 55 are fit together, and the

coupling lever 55 is rotatably supported by the developing side cover 34 centered

on a rotational axis LI1. The coupling lever spring 56 is a torsion spring, with

one end engaging the coupling lever 55 and the other end engaging the

developing side cover 34. Specifically, an operating arm 56a of the coupling

lever spring 56 engages a spring hook part 55b of the coupling lever 55, and a

fixed arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56 engages a spring hook part 34s of

the developing side cover 34 (see Fig. 9(c)).

00551 The coupling spring 185 is assembled on the outer side of the developing

side cover 34 in the longitudinal direction, which will be described in detail later.

100561 A method for assembling the coupling lever 55 and the coupling lever spring 56 to the developing side cover 34 will be described in order. First, a cylindrical part 56d of the coupling lever spring 56 is attached to a cylindrical boss 55a of the coupling lever 55 (Fig. 9(a)). The operating arm 56a of the coupling lever spring 56 engages the spring hook part 55b of the coupling lever

55 at this time. The fixed arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56 is deformed

in the direction of arrow XlI centered on the rotational axis Li . Next, the hole

55c of the coupling lever 55 is inserted onto the lever positioning boss 34m of the

developing side cover 34 (Figs. 9(a) and 9(b)). Alockingpart55dofthe

coupling lever 55 is positioned so as to not interfere with a locked part 34n of the

developing side cover 34. Specifically, the locking part 55d of the coupling

lever 55 and the locked part 34n of the developing side cover 34 are positioned so

as to not overlap when viewed from the longitudinal direction, as illustrated in

Fig. 9(b).

10057] In the state illustrated in Fig. 9(b), the fixed arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56 is deformed in the direction of arrow X11, as described earlier. When

the deformation of the fixed arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56 is released

from the state illustrated in Fig. 9(b), the fixed arm 56c engages the spring hook

part 34s of the developing side cover 34. The configuration is such that the

spring hook part 34s of the developing side cover 34 receives the biasing force of

the deformed fixed arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56. Consequently, the

fixed arm 56c of the coupling lever spring 56 receives reactive force from the

spring hook part 34s of the developing side cover 34 in the direction of arrow

X11. Further, the coupling lever 55 receives biasing force from the coupling

lever spring 56 at the spring hook part 55b. Asa result, the coupling lever 55

rotates centered on the rotational axis L Iin the direction of arrow X11, and

rotation is restricted at a position where a rotation restricting part 55y abuts a

restricting face 34y of the developing side cover 34 (see Figs. 9a through 9(c)).

Thus, the assembling of the coupling lever 55 and coupling lever spring 56 to the

developing side cover 34 ends.

100581Note that at this time, the locking part 55d of the coupling lever 55 is in a state of overlapping the locked part 34n of the developing side cover 34 as

viewed in the longitudinal direction. That is to say, the coupling lever 55 is

configured such that movement in the longitudinal direction is restricted, and

only rotation centered on the rotational axis XI is enabled. Fig. 9(d) is a cross

sectional view of the locking part 55d of the coupling lever 55.

[0059] The developing side cover 34 where the coupling lever 55 and coupling

lever spring 56 are integral, is fixed on the outer side of the driving-side

developing bearing 36 in the longitudinal direction, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

Specifically, a positioning part 34rI of the developing side cover 34 and a

positioned part 36e Iof the driving-side developing bearing 36 are engaged.

The configuration is such that the developing side cover 34 is positioned as to the

driving-side developing bearing 36 by the positioning part 34r2 and the

positioned part 36e2 being engaged.

[0060] Note that the method of fixing to the driving-side developing bearing 36

of the developing side cover 34 may be by screwing, adhesive agent, or the like,

and the configuration thereof is not restricted.

10061] When the developing side cover 34 is assembled, the rotational force

receiving parts 180al and 180a2 of the coupling member 180, guided part 180d,

and so forth, pass through the hole 34a of the developing side cover 34. The

coupling member 180 has a configuration that is exposed on the other side of the

developing cartridge Bl in the longitudinal direction (see Figs. 4, 6(a), and 6(b)).

Further, the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 (see Figs. 8(a) through

8(e)) has a configuration that abuts a guide part 55e of the coupling lever 55.

[0062JAs described above, the coupling lever 55 is configured such that biasing

force acts in the direction of the arrow Xi1, centered on the rotational axis L11.

Accordingly, the coupling member 180 receives biasing force F2 from the

coupling lever 55 (see Fig. 10(b)).

[0063] Further, the coupling spring 185 is disposed at the developing side cover

34. The coupling spring 185 is a torsion coil spring, with one end abutting the

developing side cover 34 and the other end abutting the coupling member 180.

Specifically, a positioning part 185a of the coupling spring 185 is supported by a

spring supporting part 34h of the developing side cover 34. A fixed arm 185b of

the coupling spring 185 is fixed to a spring engaging part 34j of the developing

side cover 34. Moreover, the configuration is such that an operating arm 185c

of the coupling spring 185 abuts a guided member 180d of the coupling member

180. The operating arm 185c of the coupling spring 185 is configured such that

biasing force acts in a direction of arrow L12 centered on rotational axis X12 that

is centered on the positioning part 185a. Accordingly, the coupling member 180

receives biasing force Flb from the coupling spring 185 (see Fig. 10(c)).

[00641 The coupling member 180 that has received the biasing force F2 from the coupling lever 55 and the biasing force FIb from the coupling spring 185 is held

at an attitude (rotational axis L2) included as to the rotational axis L3 of the drive

input gear 27 (Fig. 10(b)). Detailed configuration will be described alter. The

configuration of holding the inclined attitude of the coupling member 180 at this

time and the operation of forces will be described later in "Relationship of Forces

Acting on Coupling Member 180 when in Second Inclined Attitude D2"

described later.

100651 Next, the basic operations of the coupling member 180 in the state of the

developing cartridge B1 will be described with reference to Figs. 15(a) through

15(c).

100661 Fig. 15(a) is an enlarged diagram illustrating the relationship between the coupling member 180, drive input gear 27, and driving-side developing bearing

36, in a longitudinal-section view. Fig. 15(b) is a perspective view of the

driving-side developing bearing 36. Fig. 15(c) is a perspective view of the drive

input gear 27.

10067] The supported part 180b of the coupling member 180 is disposed on an interior 27t of the drive input gear 27, and further is wedged between a restricting

part 27s of the drive input gear 27 and a coupling restricting part 36s of the

driving-side developing bearing 36. A diameter rl80 of the supported part 180b

of the coupling member 180 is in a relationship of being equal to or smaller than

a width r27 of the restricting part 27s of the drive input gear 27 in the direction of

X180 and a width r36 of the coupling restricting part 36s of the driving-side

developing bearing 36 in the direction of X180.

- diameter r180 of supported part 180b > (width r27 of restricting part 27s

of the drive input gear 27 in direction of Xl80

- diameter r180 of supported part 180b > width r36 of coupling restricting

part 36s of driving-side developing bearing 36 in direction of X180

[0068] According to this configuration, movement of the coupling member 180

in the direction of the longitudinal direction arrow Y180 is restricted by the

supported part 180b being restricted by the restricting part 27s of the drive input

gear 27 of the coupling restricting part 36s of the driving-side developing bearing

36. Further, the supported part 180b is restricted within the range of the interior

27t of the drive input gear 27 regarding the cross-sectional direction X180 of the

coupling member 180. Accordingly, the coupling member 180 is configured so

as to be capable of tilting in an R80 direction centered on center 180s of the

supported part 180b, even though movement in the longitudinal direction Y180 and cross-sectional direction X180 is restricted.

[0069JNext, inclining operations of the coupling member 180 will be described.

[00701 The coupling member 180 has a configuration that receives driving force

from the main body side drive member 100 of the apparatus main body Al and is

capable of rotating on the rotational axis L2, as described above. Basically, the

rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is set to be concentric with the

rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 when transmitting driving force.

Further description has been made that there are cases where the rotational axis

L2 of the coupling member 180 and the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear

27 are not concentric but slightly shifted, due to variance in dimensions of parts

and so forth.

[0071] The present configuration enables the rotational axis L2 of the coupling

member 180 to incline in the following directions. These can be generally

is classified into the following three attitudes. • Reference attitude DO: The rotational axis L2 of the coupling member

180 is concentric or parallel in attitude with respect to the rotational axis L3 of

the drive input gear 27 - First inclined attitude Dl: The attitude where the developing cartridge

BI is mounted to the apparatus main body Al, and the developing cartridge B Iis

moving from a state where the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller

13 are spaced toward a contact state where they are in contact. The rotational

force receiving parts 180a1, 180a2 (hereinafter referred to as rotational force

receiving part 180a) of the coupling member 180 and the supported part 180b

face in the direction of the main body side drive member 100 of the apparatus

mainbodyAl. Details of the spaced state, contact state, and so forth, will be

described later.

-Second inclined attitude D2: The attitude where the rotational force

receiving part 180a and supported part 180b of the coupling member 180 are

facing in the direction of the main body side drive member 100 of the apparatus

main body Al when mounting the developing cartridge B to the apparatus main

bodyAl. Details of attitude when mounting, and so forth, will be described

later.

[00721 Now, the engaging relationship between the coupling member 180 and

driving-side developing bearing 36 will be described.

[0073] Fig. 13 is diagrams illustrating the relationship between the driving-side developing bearing 36 and the coupling member 180.

10074] Fig. 13(a) is a perspective view illustrating the positions of the driving

side developing bearing 36 and the coupling member 180. Fig. 13(b) is a

diagram of the driving-side developing bearing 36 as viewed from the front at the

driving side. Fig. 13(c) is a diagram where the coupling member 180 has been

added to a view taken along a cross-section XIC in Fig. 13(b), and Fig. 13(d) is

a diagram where the coupling member 180 has been added to a view taken along

a cross-section XIIID in Fig. 13(b).

[0075] A phase-restricting boss 180e is provided on the coupling member 180, concentrically with the rotational axis L2 and on the inner side in the longitudinal

direction, as illustrated in Fig. 13(a). On the other hand, a recessed phase

restricting part 36kb is provided to the driving-side developing bearing 36. The

phase-restricting part 36kb particularly is provided with a first inclination

restricting part 36kb Ithat is recessed in the direction of arrow KIa, and a second

inclination restricting part 36kb2 that is recessed in the direction of arrow K2a,

from the center of the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27. The phase

restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is situated within the phase

restricting part 36kb of the driving-side developing bearing 36. That is to say, the phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is positionally restricted by the phase-restricting part 36kb of the driving-side developing bearing36. In other words, the phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is capable of moving within the phase-restricting part 36kb of the driving-side developing bearing 36, and particularly can move to the first inclination restricting part 36kbl and second inclination restricting part 36kb2.

When the phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 moves to the

first inclination restricting part 36kb1, the rotational force receiving part I80a and

guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 incline in the direction of arrow

io Klb, that is the opposite direction of arrow Kla. This is a statewhere the

coupling member 180 is assuming the first inclined attitude DI. Whenthe

phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 moves to the second

inclination restricting part 36kb2, the rotational force receiving part 180a and

guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 incline in the direction of arrow

K2b, that is the opposite direction of arrow K2a. This is a state where the

coupling member 180 is assuming the second inclined attitude D2 of the coupling

member 180.

<Relationship of Forces Acting on Coupling Member 180 when in Reference

Attitude DO>

[00761 The attitude of the coupling member 180 will be described in detail below

with reference to Figs. 21(a) through 22(d), regarding the reference attitude DO of

the coupling member 180.

[00771 Fig. 22 is diagrams illustrating the position of the coupling lever 55 and the coupling member 180 at a point where the mounting of the developing

cartridge Bi to the apparatus main body Al is complete. Fig. 22(a) is a side

view as seen from the driving side, Fig. 22(b) is a side view as seen from the

direction of arrow XXIIB in Fig. 22(a), Fig. 22(c) is a side view as seen from the non-driving side with a cutaway taken along cutaway line XXIIC in Fig. 22(b).

[0078] When mounting of the developing cartridge Bi to the apparatus main body Al is complete, the coupling member 180 engages the main body side drive

member100. The rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180, the rotational

axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100, and the rotational axis L3 of the

drive input gear 27, are concentrically disposed. In other words, the rotational

force receiving part 180a of the coupling member 180 and the rotational force

applying part I00a (rotational force applying part 100al and rotational force

applying part I00a2) of the main body side drive member 100 are at positions

capable of engaging each other (see Fig. 8(b) as well).

10079JThe motion of the coupling member 180 until the coupling member 180 becomes concentric with the main body side drive member 100 will be described

with reference to Figs. 34(a) through 34(c). Figs. 34(a) through 34(c) are cross

sectional views illustrating the attitude of the coupling member until the coupling

is member 180 becomes concentric with the main body side drive member 100.

Fig. 34(a) is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a state where the coupling

member 180 is not in contact with the main body side drive member 100, and Fig.

34(b) is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state of the instant of contact of the

coupling member 180 with the main body side drive member 100. FurtherFig.

34(c) is a cross-sectional view of a state where the coupling member 180 is

concentric with the main body side drive member 100.

[0080] In a state where the coupling member 180 is not in contact with the main

body side drive member 100, the coupling member 180 is inclined in the

direction of the main body side drive member 100, the inclination being centered

on the center 180s of the supported part 180b of the coupling member 180, as

illustrated in Fig. 34(a). The coupling member 180 advances in the direction of

arrow X60, which is the direction in which the main body side drive member 100 exists, while maintaining this attitude. A recessed conical part I80g disposed on the inner side of a circular part 180f of the coupling member 180, and a protrusion lOOg disposed on the axial tip of the main body side drive member 100, come into contact. As the coupling member 180 further moves in the direction of arrow X60, the coupling member 180 moves in a direction where the inclination of the coupling member 180 is reduced, the inclination being centered on the center 180s of the supported part 180b of the coupling member 180. As a result, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180, the rotational axis L4 of the main body side drive member 100, and the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27, are concentrically arranged. Forces that the coupling member 180 is subjected to in this series of operations will be described in detail later, so description will be omitted here.

[0081] The state in which the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 and the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 are concentrically arranged is the

reference attitude DO for the attitude of the coupling member 180 (coupling

member 180 inclination angle 02 = 0°). The phase-restricting boss 180e of the

coupling member 180 detaches from the second inclination restricting part 36kb2

of the driving-side developing bearing 36, and is not in contact with any part of a

phase restricting part 36b of the driving-side developing bearing 36 (see Fig.

22(c)). The guide part 55e of the coupling lever 55 is held at a state completely

retracted from the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 (Fig. 22(a)).

That is to say, the coupling member 180 comes into contact with two parts, which

are the coupling spring 185 and the main body side drive member 100, which

decides the angle of inclination (02) thereof. In such a case, the inclination

angle (02) of the coupling member 180 may not be 02= 0° even in a state where

the mounting of the developing cartridge B Ito the apparatus main body Al is

complete.

[0082] The inclination attitude (reference attitude DO) of the coupling member

180 in a case where mounting of the developing cartridge BI to the apparatus

main body Al is complete will be described below in detail, with reference to Fig.

14.

[00831 Fig. 14 is diagrams illustrating the way in which the coupling member

180 and the main body side drive member 100 engage. The states illustrated in

Fig. 14(a) and Fig. 14(b) are a side view and cross-sectional view of a case where

the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 and the rotational axis L4 of the

main body side drive member 100 are concentrically arranged, and moreover the

rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 also is concentric.

[0084] The guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 receives biasing force

from the coupling spring 185 in the direction of arrow Fl (see Fig. 22(d)), with

the conical part 180g abutting the protrusion 100g at points 180gl and 180g2 (Fig.

8(e)). Consequently, the attitude of the coupling member 180 with respect to

the main body side drive member 100 is restricted by the two points 180g Iand

180g2 of the conical part 180g. That is to say, the rotational axis L2 of the

coupling member 180 is concentric with the rotational axis L4 of the main body

side drive member 100.

[00851 When the main body side drive member 100 of the apparatus main body

Al performs rotational driving from this state, the rotational force applying part

100a of the apparatus main body Al and the rotational force receiving part 180a

of the coupling member 180 engage. The configuration is such that driving is

transmitted from the apparatus main body Al to the coupling member 180 (see

Figs. 8(a) through 8(e)).

[00861 The state illustrated in Fig. 14(c) is a state where the rotational axis L3 of

the drive input gear 27 and the rotational axis L4 of the main body side drive

member 100 are disposed concentrically, but the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is inclined. Due to variance in dimensions of parts, the conical part I80g of the coupling member 180 abuts the protrusion 1OOg of the main body side drive member 100 and the point 180g Iof the conical part 180g but not the point 180g2 of the conical part 180g. The rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 inclines at this time, by the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 receiving biasing force from the coupling spring 185 in the direction of arrow Fl. Accordingly, the attitude of the coupling member 180 is restricted in Fig. 14(c) by the point 180gl of the conical part 180g of the coupling member 180 coming into contact with the protrusion IOOg of the main body side drivemember100. That is to say, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member

180 tilts with respect to the rotational axis L4 of the main body side drive

member100. In other words, the inclination angle (02) of the coupling member

180 is not 02 = 0°.

[00871 Further, Fig. 14(d) illustrates a state where the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is included, in a case where the rotational axis L3 of the

drive input gear 27 and the rotational axis L4 of the main body side drive member

100 are not concentric, due to variance in the dimensions of parts (see Fig. 8(d)).

In this case as well, the rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 includes

by the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 receiving biasing force from

the coupling spring 185, as in the state illustrated in Fig. 14(c). That is to say,

the inclination angle (02) of the coupling member 180 is not 02= 0. However,

the attitude of the coupling member 180 is restricted by the point 180gl of the

conical part 180g of the coupling member 180 coming into contact with the

protrusion 1Og of the main body side drive member 100, the same as in in Fig.

14(c).

[00881 However, in either state of Fig. 14(c) and Fig. 14(d), when the main body side drive member 100 of the apparatus main body Al performs rotational driving, the rotational force applying part I00a of the apparatus main body Al and the rotational force receiving part 180a of the coupling member 180 engage.

The configuration is such that driving is transmitted from the apparatus main

body A l to the coupling member 180.

[0089JAs described above, in a state where mounting of the developing cartridge

B lto the apparatus main body Al is complete, there are cases where the

rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is concentric with the rotational

axis L3 of the drive input gear 27, and cases where this is not concentric.

However, in either case, when the main body side drive member 100 of the

apparatus main body A l performs rotational driving, the rotational force applying

part 100a of the apparatus main body A l and the rotational force receiving part

180a of the coupling member 180 engage. The configuration is such that

driving is transmitted from the apparatus main body Al to the coupling member

180. The attitude of the coupling member 180 in a state where mounting of the

developing cartridge BI to the apparatus main body A l has been completed, and

the coupling member 180 can receive driving force from the rotational force

applying part 100a of the apparatus main body A1, is referred to as the reference

attitude DO of the coupling member 180. Note that the configuration is such

that the inclination angle is within a range where the rotational force applying

part 100a of the main body side drive member 100 and the rotational force

receiving part 180a of the coupling member 180 do not come loose from each

other.

[00901 The first inclined attitude Dl and second inclined attitude D2 of the

coupling member 180 will be described in detail in order blow.

<Relationship of Forces Acting on Coupling Member 180 when in First Inclined

Attitude DI>

[0091] First, the relationship offorces acting on the coupling member 180 when in the first inclined attitude DI will be described with reference to Figs. I (a) through I (c).

[0092] Fig. I1(a) is a side view of the developing cartridge B1, in a state where

the developing cartridge B Iis mounted within the apparatus main body Al and

in a spaced state where the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13

are spaced. Fig. I1(b) is a cross-sectional view of the phase-restricting boss

180e of the coupling member 180 within the phase-restricting part 36kb of the

driving-side developing bearing 36, as seen from the non-driving side of the

developing cartridge Bl. Further, Fig. 11(c) is a cross-sectional view of the

1o guided pan 180d of the coupling member 180, cut away at the position of the

guided part 180d of the coupling member 180, and viewed from the driving side

in the longitudinal direction.

[0093] The coupling lever 55 receives biasing force from the coupling lever

spring 56 (see Fig. 9(a)), to rotate in the direction of arrow X1 centered on

rotational axis L1. On the other hand, in a state where the developing cartridge

BI is mounted within the apparatus main body Al, movement in the direction of

arrow X Iis restricted by an abutting part 80y provided to the apparatus main

bodyAl. Specifically, the position of the coupling lever 55 is restricted against

the biasing force of the coupling lever spring 56, by the abutting part 80y and a

rotation restricting part 55y of the coupling lever 55 coming into contact. Note

that the abutting part 80y is formed integrally with a driving-side swing guide 80

(see Fig. 20(b)). The guide part 55e of the coupling lever 55 is in a retracted

state from the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180. Contactbetween

the coupling lever 55 and the abutting part 80y will be described in detail in the

detaching process of the developing cartridge B1, described later.

0094 On the other hand, force FIa acts on the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180, due to a guide part 185d of the coupling spring 185 coming into contact therewith. That is to say, the guided part 180d of the coupling member

180 receives force inclining in the direction of arrow Fla (see Fig. I 1(c)). The

phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is configured to be

restricted by a guide part 36kbla, guide part 36kblb, and guide part 36kbl c of

the driving-side developing bearing 36 at this time, and is configured to finally

move to the first inclination restricting part 36kbl. That is to say, the

configuration is such that the phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member

180 inclines in the direction of arrow Ki a (Fig. I1(b)), while on the other hand,

the rotational force receiving part 180a and guided part 180d of the coupling

member 180 incline in the direction of arrow Klb (Fig. I(a)). The above

described attitude of the coupling member 180 is referred to as first inclined

attitude Dl of the coupling member 180.

[00951 The orientation of the guide part 185d of the coupling spring 185

(direction of arrow F I a) can be orthogonal in direction with respect to the

direction of arrow KIb (see Fig. I1(a)), with respect to the guided part 180d of

the coupling member 180. This direction is a direction of the phase-restricting

boss I80e of the coupling member 180 abutting the first inclination restricting

part 36kb1, thereby enabling reduction of the biasing force of the coupling spring

185 to maintain the first inclined attitude Dl of the coupling member 180.

However, this is not restrictive, as long as the coupling member 180 can be

maintained at the first inclined attitude Dl by adjusting the biasing force of the

coupling spring 185 or the like.

<Relationship of Forces Acting on Coupling Member 180 when in Second

Inclined Attitude D2>

[0096] Next, the relationship of forces acting on the coupling member 180 when

in the second inclined attitude D2 will be described with reference to Fig. 12.

[0097] Fig. 12(a) is a side view of the developing cartridge BI, illustrating a state of the developing cartridge B1 before mounting to the apparatus main body Al, i.e., in a solitary state (natural state) of the developing cartridge BEL Fig. 12(b) is a cross-sectional view of the position of the phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 within the phase-restricting part 36kb of the driving-side developing bearing 36, as viewed from the non-driving side of the developing cartridge Bl. Further, Fig. 12(c) is a cross-sectional view where the guided part

180d of the coupling member 180 has been cut away, and viewed from the

driving side in the longitudinal direction. Fig. 12(a) illustrates a state where

there is no abutting part 80y provided to the apparatus main body A l in Fig. 1(a).

At this time, the coupling lever 55 receives biasing force from the coupling lever

spring 56 in the direction of arrow X Icentered on rotational axis LI1, and

rotates to a position where the guide part 55e thereof comes into contact with the

guided part 180d of the coupling member 180. Thatistosay,the guide part55e

of the coupling lever 55 and the guide part 185d of the coupling spring 185 both

come into contact with the guided part I80d of the coupling member 180.

100981 Now, the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 receives force inclining in the direction of arrow F3, as described above. At this time, the

phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is configured to be

restricted by a guide part 36kb2a, guide part 36kb2b, and guide part 36kb2c of

the driving-side developing bearing 36, and is configured to finally move to the

second inclination restricting part 36kb2. That is to say, the configuration is

such that the phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 inclines in

the direction of arrow K2a (Fig. 12(b)), while on the other hand, the rotational

force receiving part 180a and guided part 180d of the coupling member 180

incline in the direction of arrow K2b (Fig. 12(a)). The above-described attitude

of the coupling member 180 is referred to as second inclined attitude D2 of the

coupling member.

(5) General Description of Drum Cartridge C

[0099] Next, the configuration of the drum cartridge C will be described with

reference to Figs. 16(a) and 16(b). Fig. 16(a) is a perspective explanatory

diagram of the drum cartridge C as viewed from the non-driving side thereof.

Fig. 16(b) is a perspective explanatory diagram where the cleaning frame 21,

drum bearing 30, drum shaft 54, and so forth, have been omitted from illustration

to describe the periphery of the photosensitive drum 10 and charging roller 11.

[00100] The drum cartridge C has the photosensitive drum 10, charging

roller I1, and so forth, as illustrated in Fig. 16. The charging roller I Iis

1o rotatably supported by a charging roller bearing 67a and charging roller bearing

67b, and is biased as to the photosensitive drum 10 by a charging roller biasing

member 68a and charging roller biasing member 68b.

[00101] The driving side flange 24 is integrally fixed to a driving-side end

portion IOa of the photosensitive drum 10, and a non-driving side flange 28 is

integrally fixed to a non-driving-side end portion 10b of the photosensitive drum

10. The driving side flange 24 and non-driving side flange 28 are concentrically

fixed to the photosensitive drum 10 by swaging, adhesion, or the like. Means

such as screwing, adhesion, press fitting, or the like are used to fix the drum

bearing 30 to the driving-side end portion and the drum shaft 54 to the non

driving-side end portion, at both ends of the cleaning frame 21 in the longitudinal

direction. The driving side flange 24, integrally fixed to the photosensitive

drum 10, is rotatably supported by the drum bearing 30, and the non-driving side

flange 28 is rotatably supported by the drum shaft 54.

[001021 The charging roller gear 69 is provided on one end of the charging

roller 11 in the longitudinal direction, with the charging roller gear 69 meshing

with a gear portion 24g of the driving side flange 24. The configuration is such

that rotational force from the apparatus main body Al side is transmitted to a driving-side end portion 24a of the driving side flange 24 (omitted from illustration). As a result, as the photosensitive drum 10 is rotationally driven, the charging roller I I also is rotationally driven. The circumferential speed of the surface of the charging roller 11 is set to be around 105 to 120% as to the circumferential speed of the surface of the photosensitive drum 10, as described earlier.

(6) Description of Mounting/Detaching Configuration of Developing Cartridge

B Ias to Apparatus Main Body Al

[00103] Next, the method of mounting/detaching the developing cartridge

BI to/from the apparatus main body Al will be described with reference to the

drawings.

1001041 Fig. 17 is a perspective explanatory diagram viewing the apparatus main body A l from the non-driving side, and Fig. 18 is a perspective explanatory

diagram viewing the apparatus main body Al from the driving side. Figs. 19(a)

through 19(d) are explanatory diagrams of the process of mounting the

developing cartridge B Ito the apparatus main body A 1, as viewed from the

driving side.

[001051 A guided part 46d having a positioning part 46b and a rotation

stopper 46c is provided to the non-driving-side developing bearing 46 at the

developing cartridge BI, as illustrated in Fig. 17. A guided part 34d having a

positioning part 34b and a rotation stopper 34c is provided to the developing side

cover 34, as illustrated in Fig. 18.

1001061 On the other hand, a driving-side guide member 92, and further the driving-side swing guide 80 that moves integrally with the developing

cartridge B Iwithin the apparatus main body Al, are provided to a driving-side

side plate 90 configuring the casing of the apparatus main body Al at the driving

side at the apparatus main body A1, as illustrated in Fig. 17. Details of the driving-side swing guide 80 will be described later. The driving-side guide member 92 is provided with a first guide part 92a, a second guide part 92b, and a third guide part 92c. A groove for a mounting/detaching path Xla following the mounting/detaching path of the developing cartridge B Iis provided to the first guide part 92a of the driving-side guide member 92, and a groove for a mounting/detaching path X lb following the mounting/detaching path of the developing cartridge B Iis provided to the second guide part 92b. A groove for mounting/detaching path X3 following the mounting/detaching path of the drum cartridge C is provided to the third guide part 92c of the driving-side guide

1o member 92. A first guide part 80a and a second guide part 80b are provided to

the driving-side swing guide 80. The first guide part 80a of the driving-side

swing guide 80 has formed therein a groove shape following a

mounting/detaching path X2a of the developing cartridge B Ias an extension of

the first guide part 92a of the driving-side guide member 92. The second guide

part 80b of the driving-side swing guide 80 has formed therein a groove shape

following a mounting/detaching path X2b of the developing cartridge Bl as an

extension of the second guide part 92b of the driving-side guide member 92.

[00107] In the same way, a non-driving-side guide member 93, and a non

driving-side swing guide 81 that moves in the same way as the driving-side swing

guide 80, are provided to a non-driving-side side plate 91 configuring the casing

of the apparatus main body Al at the non-driving side at the apparatus main body

A I, as illustrated in Fig. 18. A first guide part 93a and a second guide part 93b

are provided to the non-driving-side guide member 93.

[00108] A groove shape of a mounting/detaching path XH I a following the

mounting/detaching path of the developing cartridge B Iis formed at the first

guide part 93a of the non-driving-side guide member 93. A groove shape of a

mounting/detaching path XH3 following the mounting/detaching path of the drum cartridge C is formed at the second guide part 93b of the non-driving-side guidemember93. A guide part 81a is provided to the non-driving-side swing guide81. A groove shape of a mounting/detaching path XH2a following the mounting/detaching path of the developing cartridge B Iis provided to the guide part of the guide part 81a of the non-driving-side swing guide 81 as an extension of the first guide part 93a of the non-driving-side guide member 93.

100109] Detailed configurations of the driving-side swing guide 80 and non-driving-side swing guide 81 will be described later.

[001101 Next, the electric contact portion of the apparatus main body Al

will be described with reference to Fig. 35.

[001111 The non-driving-side side plate 91 is provided with an electric

supply unit 120, at a position that faces the electrode portions 47a of the memory

board 47 of the developing cartridge BIwhen forming images. The electric

supply unit 120 has an electric supply contact 120A, formed of wire spring or leaf

spring or the like and having spring properties, protruding from the electric

supply unit 120, the electric supply contact 120A being connected to an electric

board that is omitted from illustration.

[001121 A method of mounting the developing cartridge B Ito the

apparatus main body Al will be described below. Rotating a main body

cover 94 that is disposed at the upper part of the apparatus main body Al and can

be opened and closed, in an opening direction Dl, exposes the inside of the

apparatus main body Al, as illustrated in Fig. 17 and Fig. 18.

1001131 Thereafter, the guided part 46d of the non-driving-side developing

bearing 46 of the developing cartridge B?(Fig. 17) and the first guide part 93a of

the non-driving-side guide member 93 of the apparatus main body Al (Fig. 18)

41.

are engaged. Further, the guided part 34d of the developing side cover 34 of the

developing cartridge BI(Fig. 18) and the first guide part 92a of the driving-side

guide member 92 of the apparatus main body Al (Fig. 17) are engaged.

Accordingly, the developing cartridge B Iis inserted into the apparatus main body

Al following the mounting/detaching path Xla and mounting/detaching path

XHIa formed by the first guide part 92a of the driving-side guide member 92 and

the first guide part 93a of the non-driving-side guide member 93.

[00114] When mounting the developing cartridge B Ito the apparatus main

body Al, the coupling member 180 is in the state of the above-described second

inclined attitude D2, as described earlier. The coupling member 180 is inserted

into the second guide part 92b of the driving-side guide member 92 while

maintaining the second inclined attitude D2. To describe in further detail, there

is a gap between the coupling member 180 and the second guide part 92b of the

driving-side guide member 92. Accordingly, while the developing cartridge B1

is being inserted into the apparatus main body Al following the

mounting/detaching paths Xlb and XHIla, the coupling member 180 maintains

the state of the second inclined attitude D2.

1001151 The developing cartridge B Ithat is inserted into the apparatus main body Al following the mounting/detaching paths X la and XH I a is next

inserted into the apparatus main body Al following the mounting/detaching paths

X2a and XH2a. The mounting/detaching paths X2a and X12a are formed by

the first guide part 80a of the driving-side swing guide 80 and the guide part Sla

of the non-driving-side swing guide 81. To describe in further detail, first, the

guided part 34d provided to the developing side cover 34 is guided by the first

guide part 92a of the driving-side guide member 92 of the apparatus main body

Al. The configuration is such that thereafter, as the mounting process proceeds,

the guided part 34d is handed over to the first guide part 80a of the driving-side swing guide 80 of the apparatus main body Al. Inthesameway,atthenon driving side, the guided part 46d provided to the non-driving-side developing bearing 46 is guided by the first guide part 93a of the non-driving-side guide member 93 of the apparatus main body Al. The configuration is such that thereafter, as the mounting process proceeds, the guided part 46d is handed over to the guide part 81 a of the non-driving-side swing guide 81 of the apparatus main body Al.

[001161 The coupling member 180 provided to the driving side end of the developing cartridge B Iis handed over from the second guide part 92b of the

driving-side guide member 92 of the apparatus main body Al to the second guide

part 80b of the driving-side swing guide 80, while maintaining the second

inclined attitude D2. Note that there is a gap between the coupling member 180

and the second guide part 80b of the driving-side swing guide 80, in the same

way as that described above.

1s <Positioning of the Developing Cartridge BI>

[00117] Next, the configuration by which the developing cartridge B Iis

positioned by the driving-side swing guide 80 and non-driving-side swing guide

81 of the apparatus main body Al will be described. Note that the basic

structure is the same for the driving side and the non-driving side, so hereinafter,

description will be made by way of example of the driving side of the developing

cartridge BI. Figs. 19(a) through 19(d) illustrates the state of the developing

cartridge BI and the driving-side swing guide 80 during the process of the

developing cartridge B Ibeing mounted to the apparatus main body Al.

1001181 Fig. 19(a) illustrates a state where the guided part 34d provided to the developing side cover 34 of the developing cartridge Bl is guided by the first

guide part 80a of the driving-side swing guide 80, and the developing cartridge

Bi is on the mounting/detaching path X2a.

[00119] Fig. 19(b) illustrates a state where mounting of the developing

cartridge B1 has further progressed from the state in Fig. 19(a). The positioning

part 34b of the guided part 34d of the developing side cover 34 abuts the

positioning part 82a of the driving-side pressing member 82 provided on the

driving-side swing guide 80 at point Pl.

[001201 Further, Fig. 20 is perspective explanatory diagrams illustrating the peripheral forms of the driving-side swing guide 80 and driving-side pressing

member 82. Fig. 20(a) is a perspective view as seen from the driving side in the

longitudinal direction, and Fig. 20(b) is a perspective view as seen from the non

driving side in the longitudinal direction. Fig. 20(c) is a disassembled

perspective view of the driving-side swing guide 80, driving-side pressing

member 82, and driving-side pressing spring 83. Fig. 20(d) and Fig. 20(e) are

enlarged detailed diagrams of around the driving-side pressing member 82.

1001211 Now, the driving-side pressing member 82 has, in addition to the

positioning part 82a, a hole 82b, a seating face 82c, and a restricting part 82d, as

illustrated in Fig. 20(a) and Fig. 20(b). The hole 82b engages with a boss 80c of

the driving-side swing guide 80, and is rotatably supported centered on the boss

80c, as illustrated in Fig. 20(c). Further, one end portion 83c of the driving-side

pressing spring 83 is in contact with the seating face 82c. Also, an other end

portion 83d of the driving-side pressing spring 83 is in contact with the seating

face 80d of the driving-side swing guide 80, as illustrated in Fig. 20(d).

Accordingly, the driving-side pressing member 82 is configured to receive

biasing force F82 in a direction of rotating in the direction of arrow Ral centered

on the boss 80c of the driving-side swing guide 80. Note that rotation of the

driving-side pressing member 82 in the direction of arrow Ral is restricted by the

restricting part 82d thereof abutting a rotation restricting part 80e provided to the

driving-side swing guide 80, thereby positioning the driving-side pressing member82. Note that the driving-side pressing member 82 rotatably supported by the driving-side swing guide 80 is capable of rotating in the direction of arrow

Ra2 against the biasing force F82 of the driving-side pressing spring 83, as

illustrated in Fig. 20(e). Further, an upper end 82e of the driving-side pressing

member 82 is capable of rotating in the direction of arrow Ra2 as far as a position

where it does not protrude from a guide face 80w of the driving-side swing guide

80.

[001221 Fig. 19(c) is a state where mounting of the developing cartridge B Ihas further progressed from the state in Fig. 19(b). A state is illustrated

where the guided part 34d, in which the positioning part 34b and rotation stopper

34c of the developing side cover 34 are integrally formed, abuts a near-side

slanted face 82w of the driving-side pressing member 82, thereby pressing the

driving-side pressing member 82 downwards in the direction of arrow Ra2. To

describe in detail, the guided part 34d of the developing side cover 34 abuts the

near-side slanted face 82w of the driving-side pressing member 82 and presses

the driving-side pressing member 82. This causes the driving-side pressing

member 82 to rotate counterclockwise (direction of arrow Ra2) centered on the

boss 80c of the driving-side swing guide 80 against the biasing force F82 of the

driving-side pressing spring 83. Fig. 19(c) is a state where the positioning part

34b of the developing side cover 34 and the upper end 82e of the driving-side

pressing member 82 are in contact. At this time, the restricting part 82d of the

driving-side pressing member 82 is separated from the rotation restricting part

80e of the driving-side swing guide 80.

[00123] Fig. 19(d) is a state where mounting of the developing cartridge

B Ihas further progressed from the state in Fig. 19(c), illustrating a state in which

the positioning part 34d of the developing side cover 34 and a positioning part

80f of the driving-side swing guide 80 are in contact. The driving-side pressing member 82 has a configuration that receives biasing force F82 in the direction of rotating in the direction of arrow Ral centered on the boss 80c of the driving-side swing guide 80, as described above. Accordingly, a far-side slanted face 82s of the driving-side pressing member 82 biases the positioning part 34b of the developing side cover 34 by a biasing force F4. Consequently, the positioning part 34b comes into contact with the positioning part 80f of the driving-side swing guide 80 at point P3 with no gap therebetween. Thus, the driving side of the developing cartridge B1 is positioned and fixed at the driving-side swing guide 80.

1001241 The configuration of the non-driving side is the same as the

driving side, with the non-driving-side swing guide 81, a non-driving-side

pressing member 84, and a non-driving-side pressing spring 85 being provided

corresponding to the driving-side swing guide 80, driving-side pressing member

82, and driving-side pressing spring 83, as illustrated in Fig. 36. Accordingly,

positioning of the positioning part 46b of the non-driving-side developing bearing

46 and the non-driving-side swing guide 81 also is the same as at the driving side

(description will be omitted). According to these, the developing cartridge B1 is

positioned and fixed at the driving-side swing guide 80 and non-driving-side

swing guide 81.

<Operations of Coupling Member 180 During Process of Mounting Developing

Cartridge BI>

100125] Next, the operations of the coupling member 180 in the process of mounting the developing cartridge B Iwill be described with reference to Figs. 21,

22 and 23.

100126] In the state before mounting the developing cartridge B1 to the

apparatus main body Al, the coupling member 180 assumes the second inclined

attitude D2, as described above. The coupling member 180 is inserted into the apparatus main body Al while maintaining the second inclined attitude D2. Fig.

21(a) illustrates a state of mounting the developing cartridge B Ito the apparatus

main body Al, and being on the mounting/detaching path X2a formed at the

driving-side swing guide 80 and non-driving-side swing guide 81. Fig.21(e)is

a diagram of the state in Fig. 21(a) as viewed from the direction of arrow XXIE

inFig.21(a). The configuration is such that with regard to the second inclined

attitude D2 of the coupling member 180, the rotational force receiving part 180a

of the coupling member 180 faces in the direction of the main body side drive

member 100 of the apparatus main body Al while the developing cartridge Bl is

on the mounting/detaching path X2a. More specifically, the coupling member

180 inclines in the direction of the main body side drive member 100 centered on

the center 180s of the supported part 180b thereof, near where the coupling

member 180 and main body side drive member 100 come into contact, which will

be described later. The second inclination restricting part 36kb2 of the driving

is side developing bearing 36 is formed so as to incline the coupling member 180 in

this manner (see Figs. 12(b), 13(a) through 13(d), and Fig. 15(a)).

1001271 Fig. 21(b) illustrates a state where the developing cartridge B Ihas

been further inserted to the mounting/detaching path X2a from the state

illustrated in Fig. 21(a). Fig. 21(f) isa diagram viewed from the direction of

arrowXXIFinFig.21(b). The state is such that the circular part 180f of the

coupling member 180 and the main body side drive member 100 are in contact.

The coupling member 180 is inclined in the direction of the main body side drive

member 100 from the state illustrated in Fig. 21(a) to the state illustrated in Fig.

21(b), so the coupling member 180 and the main body side drive member 100 can

be easily engaged. Note that the coupling member 180 maintains the second

inclined attitude D2 by the guided part 180d thereof receiving total force F3 from

the coupling lever spring 56 and the coupling spring 185, as described above (see

Figs. 12(a) through 12(c)). In the following description, the angle formed

between the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27 and the rotational axis

L2 of the coupling member 180 (inclination angle) when the coupling member

180 is at the second inclined attitude D2 is 02a (see Fig. 21(b)).

[00128] Fig. 21(c) illustrates a state where the developing cartridge Bi has been further inserted to the mounting/detaching path X2a from the state

illustrated in Fig. 21(b). Fig. 21(g) is a diagram viewed from the direction of

arrow XXIG in Fig. 21(c). Figs. 23(a) and 23(b) are cross-sectional diagrams

illustrating the relationship of force at the periphery of the coupling member 180

when the circular part 180f of the coupling member 180 comes into contact with

the main body side drive member 100.

[001291 The rotation restricting part 55y of the coupling lever 55 and the

abutting part 80y disposed on the driving-side swing guide 80 are in a state of

contact. The inclination angle of the coupling member 180 becomes 02b

( 02a) from the state illustrated in Fig. 21(b) to the state illustrated in Fig. 21(c),

by the circular part 180f thereof coming into contact with the main body side

drivemember100. In more detail, the coupling member 180 receives force

F100 atthe contact part from the main body side drive member 100. Inacase

where the force F100 is in a direction against the force F3 that the coupling

member 180 originally was receiving, and also is greater than F3, the inclination

angle of the coupling member 180 becomes smaller, and nears a direction of

being relatively parallel to the rotational axis L3 of the drive input gear 27. That

is to say, the inclination angle changes centered on the center 180s of the

supported part 180b, and becomes 02b < 02a (see Figs. 15(a), 21(b), 21(c), and

23(a)). The coupling member 180 comes into contact with four parts, which are

the coupling lever 55, the coupling spring 185, the main body side drive member

100, and the phase-restricting part 36kb of the driving-side developing bearing 36, which decides the inclination angle thereof (02b).

100130] Fig. 21(d) illustrates a state where the developing cartridge Bi has been further inserted to the mounting/detaching path X2a from the state

illustrated in Fig. 21(c). Fig. 21(h) is a diagram viewed from the direction of

arrow XXIH in Fig. 21(d). The rotation restricting part 55y of the coupling

lever 55 is in contact with the abutting part 80y of the driving-side swing guide

80. Accordingly, the coupling lever 55 rotates in the direction of arrow XIlb

centered on the rotational axis LI Irelatively within the developing cartridge BI,

in conjunction with the insertion of the developing cartridge BI in the direction

of the mounting/detaching path X2a. At this time, the guide part 55e of the

coupling lever 55 also rotates in the direction of arrow XIlb centered on the

rotational axis Ll 1. Asa result, the coupling member 180 the inclination angle

02c of the coupling member 180 decreases (02c < 02b) along the guide part 55e

of the coupling lever 55 as biasing force is received from the coupling spring 185.

is The coupling member 180 comes into contact with three parts, which are the

coupling spring 185, the main body side drive member 100, and the phase

restricting part 36kb of the driving-side developing bearing 36, which decides the

inclination angle (02c) thereof.

[00131] Figs. 22(a) through 22(d) illustrate a state where the developing

cartridge BI has been further inserted in the direction of the mounting/detaching

path X2a from the state illustrated in Fig. 21(d), and also illustrates a state where

mounting of the developing cartridge B 3to the apparatus main body Al has been

completed.

[00132] The coupling member 180 engages the main body side drive

member 100, and assumes the reference attitude DO (coupling member 180

inclination angle 02 = 0°).

[00133] The phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is separated from the second inclination restricting part 36kb2 of the driving-side developing bearing 36 at this time, and is not in contact with any part of the phase restricting part 36b of the driving-side developing bearing 36 (see Fig. 22(c)).

The guide part 55e of the coupling lever 55 is held in a state completely retracted

from the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180. That is to say, the

coupling member 180 is in contact with two parts, which are the coupling spring

185 and the main body side drive member 100, which decides the inclination

angle (02) thereof (see the above-described reference attitude DO of the coupling

member 180 for details).

<Operations of Coupling Member 180 During Process of Removing Developing

Cartridge B1>

[00134] Next, the operations of the coupling member 180 in the process of removing the developing cartridge B1 from the apparatus main body Al will be

described.

1001351 The operations of removing the developing cartridge B Ifrom the

apparatus main body A 1 are the reverse operations from the above-described

mounting.

100136] First, the user rotates the main body cover 94 of the apparatus main body A l in the opening direction Dl (see Fig. 17 and Fig. 18) in the same

way as when mounting, and exposes the inside of the apparatus main body A1.

The developing cartridge B1 is held in a contact attitude where the developing

roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 are in contact, by the driving-side swing

guide 80, non-driving-side swing guide 81, and also a configuration omitted from

illustration.

[00137] The developing cartridge B1 is then moved in the removing

direction following the mounting/detaching path XH2 provided to the driving

side swing guide 80 and non-driving-side swing guide 81,

[001381 As the developing cartridge Bi moves, the abutting part 80y of the driving-side swing guide 80 that had been in contact with the rotation restricting

part 55y of the coupling lever 55 moves (from state illustrated in Fig. 21(d) to

state illustrated in Fig. 21(c)). In conjunction with this, the coupling lever 55

rotates in the direction of arrow X Icentered on the rotational axis L11.

Further moving the developing cartridge B Icauses the coupling lever 55 to rotate

in the direction of arrow XI 1, and the guide part 55e of the coupling lever 55

comes into contact with the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 (state

illustrated in Fig. 21(c)). The coupling member 180 that receives biasing force

from both the coupling lever 55 and the coupling spring 185 starts moving in the

direction of the second inclined attitude D2, as described earlier. Finally,the

phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 is restricted by the guide

part 36kb2a, guide part 36kb2b, and guide part 36kb2c of the driving-side

developing bearing 36, and engages the second inclination restricting part 36kb2.

is The coupling member 180 maintains the state of the second inclined attitude D2.

[001391 Thereafter, the developing cartridge Bi is removed to the outside of the apparatus main body A1, by being moved in the removing direction

following the mounting/detaching path XH Iprovided to the driving-side guide

member 92 and non-driving-side guide member 93.

100140] As described above, the developing cartridge B1 that applies

biasing force to the coupling member 180 is provided with the coupling lever 55

and coupling lever spring 56, which enables the coupling member 180 to be

inclined at the second inclined attitude D2. The direction of inclination in which

the coupling member 180 is inclined by the coupling lever 55 is the direction of

the mounting/detaching path X2a of the developing cartridge Bl, and further, the

configuration is such that the rotating operation of the coupling lever 55 occurs in

conjunction with mounting/detaching operations of the developing cartridge BI by the user.

(7) Regarding Contact/Separation Lever as Movable Member

100141] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 serving as a driving side movable member will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig.1(a)isan

explanatory diagram of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and

peripheral form, and is a cross-sectional view of the developing cartridge B Ias

seen from the driving side.

[001421 The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 includes a first contact face 70a, a second contact face 70b, a third contact face 70c, a supported

part 70d, a driving-side restricting contact part 70e, and a first protrusion (one

end side protrusion) 70f. The supported part 70d of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is rotatably supported by the driving-side

developing bearing 36, by a supporting part 36c of the driving-side developing

bearing 36. Specifically, a boss of the supporting part 36c of the driving-side

developing bearing 36 fits to a hole in the supported part 70d of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70, whereby the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

70 is supported to be capable of rotation (in the directions of arrows N9 and N10)

centered on the boss of the supporting part 36c. That is to say, the supporting

part 36c serves as the rotational center of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70. The supporting part 36c of the driving-side developing bearing 36 is

parallel to the rotational axis LO of the developing roller 13. Thatistosay,the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 can rotate on a plane orthogonal to the

rotational axis LO of the developing roller 13.

1001431 Further, at the third contact face 70c, the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is in contact with one end 71d of the driving-side

developing pressure spring 71 that is compression spring serving as a first elastic

part. An other end 71e of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 is in contact with a contact face 36d of the driving-side developing bearing 36.

Consequently, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 receives force in the

direction of arrow N16 at the third contact face 70c, from the driving-side

developing pressure spring 71. The driving-side developing pressure spring 71

biases (urges) the first contact face 70a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 in a direction of moving away from the developing roller 13 (N16). In

the solitary state of the developing cartridge B1, i.e., in the state before the

developing cartridge B Iis mounted to the apparatus main body Al, the driving

side restricting contact part 70e is in contact with the restricting part 36b provided

to the driving-side developing bearing 36.

100144] Now, Fig. 37 is a diagram where the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 has been projected on a cross-sectional view of the

developing cartridge Bl. The supported part 70d (the center of rotation of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70) is at a position overlapping the

developer accommodation part 16a (i.e., within the developer accommodation

part 16a) in Fig. 37. That is to say, when the developing cartridge B Iis viewed

following the direction of arrow NI I (see Fig. 4) that is a direction parallel to the

rotational axis LO of the developing roller 13, the supported part 70d of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is at a position overlapping the

2o developer accommodation part 16a of the developing container 16. The non

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 has the same configuration, although

omitted from illustration.

1001451 Accordingly, the amount of protrusion of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72

from the developer accommodation part 16a can be reduced, and the size of the

developing cartridge B Ias viewed from the rotational axis direction of the

developing roller 13 can be made compact.

[001461 The non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 serving as a non-driving-side movable member will be described with reference to Fig. 1(b).

Note that the non-driving side has a similar configuration to the driving side.

[00147] Fig. 1(b) is a side view of the developing cartridge Bl from the

s non-driving side. Note however, that some of the parts have been omitted from

illustration, for description of the configuration of the non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72.

1001481 As illustrated in Fig. 1(b), the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 has a non-driving-side first contact face 72a, a non

driving-side second contact face 72b, a non-driving-side third contact face 72c, a

supported part 72d, a non-driving-side restricting contact part 72e, and a non

driving side first protrusion 72f (other end side protrusion) The supported part

72d of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is supported by the

supporting part 46f of the non-driving-side developing bearing 46. Specifically,

a boss of the supporting part 46f of the non-driving-side developing bearing 46 is

fit to a hole of the supported part 72d of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 72, whereby the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 can rotate

(directions of arrows NH9 and NH10) centered on the boss of the supporting part

46f. That is to say, the supporting part 46f is the center of rotation of the non

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72. The supporting part 46f of the non

driving-side developing bearing 46 also is parallel to the rotational axis LO of the

developing roller 13 in the present embodiment. That is to say, the non-driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is capable of rotating on a plane orthogonal to

the rotational axis LO of the developing roller 13.

[00149] Further, the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 comes

into contact with one end 73e of the non-driving-side developing pressure spring

73 that is a compression spring serving as a second elastic part, at the non- driving-side third contact face 72c. An other end 73d of the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73 is in contact with a contact face 46g of the non driving-side developing bearing 46. Consequently, the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 receives force FH10 in the direction of arrow N 16 from the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73, at the non-driving-side third contact face 72c. The non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73 biases (urges) the non-driving-side first contact face 72a of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 in a direction of moving away from the developing roller 13 (arrow NH16). In the solitary state of the developing cartridge BI, i.e.,

1o in the state before the developing cartridge B Iis mounted to the apparatus main

body A 1, the non-driving-side restricting contact part 72e is in contact with the

restricting part 46e provided to the non-driving-side developing bearing 46.

1001501 The restricting part 36b and restricting part 46e are each configured to partially overlap the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and

non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73 in the biasing direction of the

driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and non-driving-side developing

pressure spring 73, as illustrated in Fig. 1. In other words, the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is sandwiched between the restricting part 36b and

driving-side developing pressure spring 71, and is configured to receive

compression force. That is to say, the position of a separated part 70g after the

separated part 70g of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 has come into

contact with the restricting part 36b can be precisely positioned. Thisholdstrue

for the non-driving side as well. As a result, spacing force by a spacing

mechanism of the apparatus main body, which will be described later, can be

received at a highly precise timing.

[00151] The restricting part 36b and the restricting part 46e restrict the respective driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 from moving in a direction away from the developing roller 13. In other words, the restricting part 36b and the restricting part 46e are provided at positions where they can restrict the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 from moving in a direction away from the developing roller 13. When spacing the developing roller 13 from the photosensitive drum 10, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 are tuned in the rotating directions NIO and N-l 0 respectively, to come into contact with the restricting part 36b and the restricting part 46e. Accordingly, the state is such that a spacing force by a spacing mechanism of the apparatus main body is transmitted from the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 to the driving-side developing bearing 36 and non-driving-side developing bearing 46 of the developing frame via the restricting part 36b and restricting part 46e.

1001521 Fig. 44 is a schematic diagram illustrating the position relationship

of the restricting part 36b, restricting part 46e, driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70, non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72, driving-side developing

pressure spring 71, and non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73, in the

longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13. Fig. 44 is a diagram viewed

from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller

13 (direction of rotational axis LO). The restricting part 36b is configured so as

to overlap at least partially the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and

driving-side third contact face 70c, with regard to a direction NI Ithat is parallel

to the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13 (direction of rotational

axis LO). In the same way, the restricting part 46e is configured so as to overlap

at least partially the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73 and non

driving-side third contact face 72c, with regard to the direction N11.

Accordingly, the spacion force by the later-described spacing mechanism of the

apparatus main body can be received at a highly precise timing.

[00153] The restricting part 36b is also configured so as to at least partially overlap the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the driving-side third

contact face 70c with regard to the direction of arrow M2 as well, as illustrated in

Fig. 1. In the same way, the restricting part 46e is also configured so as to at

least partially overlap the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73 and the

non-driving-side third contact face 72c with regard to the direction of arrow M2.

Note however, that it is sufficient that the above-described placement relationship

lo of the restricting part 36b and restricting part 46e be realized regarding one or the

other direction of the direction of N Iand the direction of arrow M2.

[00154] Now, the biasing force F10 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the biasing force FH10 of the non-driving-side developing pressure

spring 73 are set differently. Also, the driving-side third contact face 70c and

is non-driving-side third contact face 72c are disposed at different angles. These

may be selected as appropriate, taking in to consideration the properties of the

peripheral configuration, so that the later-described pressing force of the

developing roller 13 as to the photosensitive drum 10 is appropriate. A

relationship where

FIO < FHlO is set in the present embodiment, taking into consideration moment M6 (see Fig.

27(a)) occurring at the developing cartridge B Iwhen receiving drive

transmission from the apparatus main body A 1, to rotationally drive the

developing roller 13.

[00155] That is to say, at the driving side, the coupling member 180 rotates

in the direction of arrow X6 as illustrated in Fig. 8(b). The developing cartridge

B That has received this rotational force rocks in the direction of arrow N6 illustrated in Fig. 27(a) integrally with the driving-side swing guide 80, centered on a supporting part 80g (see Fig. 27(a)). In a case where the rotational force

(torque) that the coupling member 180 receives from the main body side drive

member 100 is sufficient, the moment in the direction of arrow N6 is generated

by the torque of the coupling member 180 alone, generating force pressuring the

developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10. Accordingly, the

biasing force F10 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 may be made

to be smaller than the biasing force FH10 of the non-driving-side developing

pressure spring 73.

[00156] Now, a straight line Z30 that passes through the center 13z of the

developing roller 13 and is parallel to the mounting/detaching direction X2 (Fig.

17) of the developing cartridge B1 to/from the apparatus main body A l is defined,

as illustrated in Fig. 1(a). The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is

disposed on the opposite side of the straight line Z30 from the photosensitive

is drum 10 (the lower side in the direction of gravity in the present embodiment).

The degree of freedom of placement with regard to the drum cartridge C

increases due to this configuration, for mounting/detaching the developing

cartridge. Specifically, the configuration where the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 does not protrude in the direction of the drum

cartridge C increases the degree of freedom of placement of the drum cartridge C.

There is no need for a placement avoiding interference with the protruding

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 or the like.

100157] The first protrusion 70f of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 protrudes further than the developing container 16, driving-side

developing bearing 36, and developing side cover 34 (see Fig. 10(a)), as viewed

from the driving side of the developing cartridge in the longitudinal direction

(rotational axis direction).

1001581 That is to say, the first protrusion (one end side protrusion) 70f of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is exposed from the developing

frame (16, 46, 36, 34) when viewing the developing cartridge from the driving

side (one end side) in the longitudinal direction (direction of rotational axis LO),

as illustrated in Fig. 11(a).

[001591 However, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 does not necessarily have to be exposed from the developing frame (16, 46, 36, 34) when

viewing the developing cartridge Bi in the longitudinal direction (direction of

rotational axis LO). A configuration is conceivable where the first protrusion

70f is not exposed (cannot be seen), the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70

being hidden behind the developing frame when the developing cartridge B Iis

viewed from the driving side or non-driving side.

1001601 That is to say, it is sufficient for the first protrusion 70f to protrude from the developing frame (16, 46, 36, 34) in a cross-section (see Fig. 1(a)) of the

is developing cartridge that passes through the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 (particularly the first protrusion 70f) and is orthogonal to the developing

direction (rotational axis LO of the developing roller 13). According to this

configuration, a later-described driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 (see

Figs. 27(a) through 27(c)) can engage the first protrusion 70f.

[00161] In other words, it is sufficient to form the external form of the

developing cartridge so that the first protrusion 70f protrudes from the developing

frame at a position where the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is

disposed in the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13. In the present

embodiment, the first protrusion 70f protrudes with respect to the driving-side

developing bearing 36, at the position where the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 is disposed. A configuration may also be made where the first

protrusion 70f is covered by the developing side cover 34 situated further outwards in the longitudinal direction than the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70, or covered by the developing container 16 situated further inwards in the longitudinal direction than the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70.

[00162] To summarize, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 protrudes so as to form the outer shape of the developing cartridge Bi when

viewed at a cross-section at the position of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 in the direction of the rotational axis LO of the developing roller 13.

[001631 Further, the protruding direction of the first protrusion 70f (direction of arrow M2) intersects the directions in which the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 can move (movement directions: directions of

arrows N9 and N10), and the direction in which the developing cartridge B Ican

move (movement direction: direction of arrow N6 (see Fig. 27(a)).

[001641 The first protrusion 70f has the first contact face 70a in a direction away from of the developing roller 13 as seen from the supported part 70d of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70. The configuration is such that a

second contact face 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150

comes into contact with the first contact face 70a of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 when the developing roller 13 is pressured against

the photosensitive drum 10 (see Fig. 27(a)), which will be described in detail later.

Further, the spaced part 70g that intersects the direction of protrusion of the first

protrusion 70f (direction of arrow M2) and protrudes at the side toward the

developing roller 13 is provided on the tip of the first protrusion 70f. The

spaced part 70g has the second contact face 70b. The configuration is such that

a first contact face 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150

comes into contact with the second contact face 70b of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 when the developing roller 13 is spaced from the

photosensitive drum 10 (see Figs. 28(a) through 28(d)), which will be described in detail later.

[001651 Next, the shape of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 1(b). The non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is disposed on the opposite side from the photosensitive drum 10 across the straight line Z30 that passes through the center 13z of the developing roller 13 and is parallel to the mounting/detaching direction X2 of the developing cartridge B Ito/from the apparatus main body Al (the lower side in the direction of gravity in the present embodiment), in the same way as with the driving side, described above. The degree of freedom of placement 1o with regard to the drum cartridge C increases due to this configuration, for mounting/detaching the developing cartridge. Specifically, the configuration where the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 does not protrude in the direction of the drum cartridge C increases the degree of freedom of placement of the drum cartridge C. There is no need for a placement avoiding interference with the protruding non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 or the like.

1001661 The first protrusion 72f of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 protrudes out further than the developing container 16 and non-driving-side developing bearing 46 when viewed from the longitudinal direction. The first protrusion (other end side protrusion) 72f of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is exposed from the developing frame (16, 46, 36, 34) when viewing the developing cartridge in the longitudinal direction (direction of rotational axis LO) from the non-driving side (other end side) (see Fig. 5).

[00167] Note however, that in the same way as with the first protrusion 70f, the first protrusion 72f does not need to be exposed when viewing the developing cartridge B Iin the longitudinal direction (direction of rotational axis LO).

1001681 That is to say, it is sufficient for the first protrusion 72f to protrude from the developing frame (16, 36, 34) in a cross-section of the developing cartridge that passes through the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72

(particularly the protrusion 72f) and is orthogonal to the developing direction

(rotational axis LO of the developing roller 13), in the same way as with the first

protrusion 70f. According to this configuration, a later-described non-driving

side apparatus pressing member 151 (see Fig. 29(a)) can engage the protrusion

72f.

[00169] In other words, it is sufficient to form the external form of the

developing cartridge B Iso that the protrusion 72f protrudes from the developing

frame (the non-driving-side side cover 46 in the present embodiment) at a

position where the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is disposed in

the longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13. A configuration may also

be made where the developing frame covers the first protrusion 72f at the outer

side in the longitudinal direction or inner side in the longitudinal direction where

the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is disposed.

[001701 To summarize, the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 protrudes so as to form the outer shape of the developing cartridge BIwhen

viewed at a cross-section at the position of the non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 in the direction of the rotational axis LO of the

2o developing roller 13.

[00171] Further, the protruding direction of the first protrusion 72f

(direction of arrow MH2) intersects the directions in which the non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 can move (movement directions: directions of

arrows NH9 and NH0), and the direction in which the developing cartridge BI

can move (movement direction: direction of arrow Ml (see Fig. 27(a)). The

first protrusion 72f has the first contact face 72a in a direction away from the

developing roller 13 as seen from the supported part 72d of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72. The configuration is such that a second contact face 151b of the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 comes into contact with the first contact face 72a of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 when the developing roller 13 is pressured against the photosensitive drum 10 (see Fig. 29), which will be described in detail later.

[001721 Further, the spacing part 72g that intersects the direction of protrusion of the first protrusion 72f from the developing container 16 (direction

of arrow MH2) and protrudes at the side toward the developing roller 13 is

provided on the tip of the first protrusion 72f. The spacing part 72g has the

second contact face 72b. The configuration is such that a first contact face 151a

of the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 comes into contact with

the second contact face 72b of the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72

when the developing roller 13 is spaced from the photosensitive drum 10 (see Fig.

29(b)), which will be described in detail later.

[00173] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the non

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 are provided on both ends of the

developing cartridge, with regard to the axis direction (longitudinal direction) of

the developing roller 13, as described earlier. The driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72

may be disposed further outwards than the width of the media being used to form

images, such as recording paper, label sheets, OHP sheets, and so forth. In this

case, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and so forth, the media, and

conveyance members and the like provided to the apparatus main body to convey

the media, may be disposed at an intersecting position, when viewing the

apparatus main body along a plate of which the longitudinal direction is a normal

line. As a result, the size of the apparatus main body can be reduced.

1001741 Next, the placement of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 will be described with

reference to Fig. 24. Fig. 24 is a frontal view where the developing cartridge BI

has been viewed from the developing roller 13 side. Note however, that a cross

sectional view has been taken around the supporting part 36a of the driving-side

developing bearing 36 that supports the driving-side supported part 13a of the

developing roller 13, and the supporting part 46f of the non-driving-side

developing bearing 46 that supports the non-driving-side supported part 13c of

the developing roller 13.

100175] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is provided on the driving-side end of the developing cartridge BI in the longitudinal direction, as

described above. Also, the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is

provided on the non-driving-side end of the developing cartridge BI in the

longitudinal direction. The rotating operations of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

72 (directions of arrows N9 and N10 in Fig.1(a), and directions of arrows NH9

and NH10 in Fig. 1(b)) can be independently rotated without influencing each

other.

[00176] Now, the driving-side supported part 13a of the developing roller

13 is supported by the supporting part 36a of the driving-side developing bearing

36 further outside longitudinally than a driving-side end L13bk of an image

forming range Ll3b. Further, the non-driving-side supported part 13c of the

developing roller 13 is supported by the supporting part 46f of the non-driving

side developing bearing 46 further outside longitudinally than a non-driving-side

end L13bh of the image forming range L13b. Thedriving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72

are disposed overlapping at least partially with the range of a total length Ll3a of

the developing roller 13. Further, driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 are disposed further outside of the image forming range Ll3b of the developing roller 13.

1001771 That is to say, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the driving-side supported part 13a of the developing roller 13 are disposed so as to at least partially overlap a region Ll4k sandwiched between the driving-side end Ll3bk of an image forming range LI3b and a driving-side end Ll3ak of the total length L13a of the developing roller 13. Accordingly, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the driving-side supported part 13a of the developing roller 13 are at near positions in the longitudinal direction.

[00178] Also, the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 and the non-driving-side supported part 13c of the developing roller 13 are disposed so as to at least partially overlap a region Ll4h sandwiched between the non-driving side end Ll3bh of the image forming range Ll3b and a non-driving-side end Ll3ah of the total length L13a of the developing roller 13. Thenon-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 and the non-driving-side supported part 13c of the developing roller 13 are disposed so as to satisfy this relationship. Accordingly,

the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 and the driving-side supported part 13c of the developing roller 13 are at near positions in the longitudinal direction. (Description of Contact/Separation Mechanism) (Developing Pressuring of Apparatus Main Body, and Development spacing Configuration) Next, developing pressuring of the apparatus main body, and a development spacing configuration will be described. 1001791 Fig. 25(a) is a disassembled perspective view of the driving-side side plate 90 of the apparatus main body A as viewed from the non-driving side, and Fig. 25(b) is a side view as viewed from the non-driving side. Fig. 26(a) is a disassembled perspective view of the non-driving-side side plate 91 of the apparatus main body Al as viewed from the driving side, and Fig. 26(b) is a side view as viewed from the driving side.

[001801 The driving-side guide member 92 and the driving-side swing guide 80 for mounting/detaching the developing cartridge BI to/from the

apparatus main body A1, are provided to the apparatus main body Al, as

illustrated in Fig. 25. The driving-side guide member 92 and driving-side swing

guide 80 guide the driving-side guided part 34d of the developing cartridge B Iat

the time of mounting the developing cartridge B Iwithin the apparatus main body

(see Fig. 18).

[001811 The driving-side guide member 92 has a boss-shaped positioned part 92d protruding from the driving-side guide member 92, and a rotation

restricted part 92e. supported by a hole-shaped positioning part 90a provided to

the driving-side side plate 90, and a rotation restricting part 90b, as illustrated in

Fig. 25(a). The driving-side guide member 92 is then positioned and fixed to

the driving-side side plate 90 by fixing devices such as screws (omitted from

illustration). The driving-side swing guide 80 is supported by a cylindrical

supported protrusion 80g fitting to a hole-shaped supporting part 90c provided to

the driving-side side plate 90. Accordingly, the driving-side swing guide 80 is

supported by the driving-side side plate 90 so as to be capable of rotating in the

direction of arrow N5 and the direction of arrow N6.

[00182] Note that while description has been made above where the supporting part 90c provided to the driving-side side plate 90 is hole-shaped

(recess-shaped), and the supported protrusion 80g provided to the driving-side

swing guide 80 is protrusion-shaped, the recessed/protruding relationship thereof

is not restricted to this, and the recessed/protruding relationship may be reversed.

1001831 Further, a driving-side biasing unit 76 that is a tension spring are provided between a protrusion 80h of the driving-side swing guide 80 and a protrusion 90d of the driving-side side plate 90. The driving-side swing guide

80 is biased by the driving-side biasing unit 76 in the direction of arrow N6,

which draws the protrusion 80h of the driving-side swing guide 80 and the

protrusion 90d of the driving-side side plate 90 closer together. Theapparatus

main body Al is provided with the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150

that brings the surface of the photosensitive drum 10 and developing roller 13

into contact, and spaces the two. The driving-side apparatus pressing member

150 is supported by a base plate (omitted from illustration) in a state of being

movable in the direction of arrow N7 and the direction of arrow NS.

[001841 On the other hand, the non-driving-side guide member 93 and the non-driving-side swing guide 81 for mounting/detaching the developing cartridge

B Ito/from the apparatus main body A l are provided to the apparatus main body

Al, as illustrated in Figs. 26(a) and 26(b). The non-driving-side guide member

93 and non-driving-side swing guide 81 guide the non-driving-side guided part

46d of the developing cartridge B Iat the time of mounting the developing

cartridge B Iwithin the apparatus main body (see Fig. 18).

[001851 The non-driving-side guide member 93 has a boss-shaped positioned part 93d protruding from the non-driving-side guide member 93, and a

2o rotation restricted part 93e, as illustrated in Fig. 26(a). The positioned part 93d

and rotation restricted part 93e are supported by a hole-shaped positioning part

91a provided to the non-driving-side side plate 91, and a rotation restricting part

91b. The non-driving-side guide member 93 is then positioned and fixed to the

non-driving-side side plate 91 by fixing devices such as screws (omitted from

illustration). The non-driving-side swing guide 81 is supported by a cylindrical

supported protrusion 81g fitting to a hole-shaped supporting part 91 provided to

the non-driving-side side plate 91. Accordingly, the non-driving-side swing guide 81 is supported by the non-driving-side side plate 91 so as to be capable of rotating in the direction of arrow N5 and the direction of arrow N6.

1001861 Note that while description has been made above where the supporting part 91c provided to the non-driving-side side plate 91 is hole-shaped

(recess-shaped), and the supported protrusion 81g provided to the non-driving

side swing guide 81 is protrusion-shaped, the recessed/protruding relationship

thereof is not restricted to this, and the recessed/protruding relationship may be

reversed.

1001871 Further, a non-driving-side biasing unit 77 that is a tension spring 1o is provided between a protrusion 81h of the non-driving-side swing guide 81 and

a protrusion 91d of the non-driving-side side plate 91. Thenon-driving-side

swing guide 81 is biased by the non-driving-side biasing unit 77 in the direction

of arrow N6, which draws the protrusion 81h of the non-driving-side swing guide

81 and the protrusion 91d of the non-driving-side plate 91 closer together,

[001881 The apparatus main body A l is provided with the non-driving-side

apparatus pressing member 151 that brings the surface of the photosensitive drum

10 and developing roller 13 into contact, and spaces the two, in the same way as

at the driving side. The non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 is

supported by a base plate (omitted from illustration) in a state of being movable

in the direction of arrow N7 and the direction of arrow N8.

(Developing Pressuring and Development Spacing Relative to Photosensitive

Drum)

[00189] Next, pressuring and spacing of the developing roller 13 as to the

photosensitive drum 10 will be described.

[001901 The configuration of the developing roller 13 will be described

below.

1001911 Fig. 27(a) is a side view illustrating a state where the developing roller 13 that the developing cartridge B1, supported by the driving-side swing

guide 80, has, in a state in contact with the photosensitive drum 10. Fig. 27(c) is

a detailed diagram of the periphery of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

70 in Fig. 27(a), with the driving-side swing guide 80 and developing side cover

34 being omitted from illustration for the sake of description.

1001921 The so-called contact developing system, where the developing roller 13 bearing developer t is brought into direct contact with the photosensitive

drum 10 to develop an electrostatic latent image in the photosensitive drum 10, is

used in the present embodiment.

[00193] The developing roller 13 is configured of the shaft part 13e and

rubber part 13d. The shaft part 13e is an electroconductive slender cylindrical

object of aluminum or the like, and the middle portion thereof is covered by the

rubber part 13d in the longitudinal direction thereof (see Figs. 6(a) and 6(b)).

Now, the rubber part 13d covers the shaft part 13e so that the external shape

thereof is concentric with the shaft part 13e. A magnet roller 12 is built in

within the cylinder of the shaft part I3e. The rubber part 13d bears the

developer t on the circumferential face thereof, and a bias is applied to the shaft

part 13e. An electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10 is then

developed by bringing the rubber part 13d in the state of bearing the developer t

into contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 10.

[001941 Next, the configuration of bringing the developing roller 13 into contact with the photosensitive drum 10 at a predetermined contact pressure will

be described.

[001951 As described earlier, the driving-side swing guide 80 is supported

by the driving-side side plate 90 so as to be capable of rocking in the directions of

arrow N5 and arrow N6. Also, the non-driving-side swing guide 81 is supported by the non-driving-side side plate 91 so as to be capable of rocking in the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6. The developing cartridge B Iis positioned to the driving-side swing guide 80 and the non-driving-side swing guide 81, as described earlier. Accordingly, the developing cartridge B Iis in a state of being capable of rocking in the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6 within the apparatus main body Al (see Figs. 29(a) and 29(b)).

[001961 In this state, the second contact face 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and the first contact face 70a of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 come into contact, as illustrated in Fig. 27(a) and

Fig. 27(c). Accordingly, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is in a

state of having rotated in the direction of arrow N9 in Fig. 27(c) against the

biasing force of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71. The third

contact face 70c of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 then compresses

the driving-side developing pressure spring 71, and receives biasing force F0a

from the driving-side developing pressure spring 71. Asa result, moment MIO

in the direction of arrow N10 acts on the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

70. At this time, the second contact face 150b of the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 150 and the first contact face 70a of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 are in contact. Accordingly, the first contact face

70a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 receives force F IIfrom the

second contact face 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 so

that moment, which is balanced with the moment M10, acts on the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70. Thus, the external force of force F lI is acting on

the developing cartridge Bl. Also, the driving-side biasing unit 76 is provided

between the protrusion 80h of the driving-side swing guide 80 and the protrusion

90d of the driving-side side plate 90, as described earlier, biasing in the direction

ofarrowN12. Accordingly, the external force of force F12 in the direction of arrow N12 is acting on the developing cartridge B positioned by the driving-side swing guide 80.

100197] That is to say, the developing cartridge BIreceives moment M6 in the direction of the developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 coming

closer (direction of arrow N6), by the force Fl1 from the driving-side developing

pressure spring 71 and the force F12 from the driving-side biasing unit 76. The

elastic layer 13d of the developing roller 13 can be pressured against the

photosensitive drum 10 at a predetermined pressure by this moment M6.

[00198] Next, Fig. 29(a) is a side view illustrating a state where the

developing roller 13, which the developing cartridge B Isupported by the non

driving-side swing guide 81 has, is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10.

Fig. 29(c) is a detailed diagram of the periphery of the non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 in Fig. 29(a), with the non-driving-side swing guide

81 and non-driving-side developing bearing 46 being partially omitted from

illustration for the sake of description.

[001991 The non-driving side has the same configuration as the driving side, and external forces FH I I and FH12 act on the developing cartridge B Iby

the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73 and non-driving-side biasing

unit 77, as illustrated in Fig. 29(a) and Fig. 29(c). Accordingly, the developing

cartridge Bl receives moment (M6) in the direction of the developing roller 13

and photosensitive drum 10 coming closer (direction of arrow N6), and the elastic

layer 13d of the developing roller 13 can be pressured against the photosensitive

drum 10 at a predetermined pressure.

1002001 Now, the distance from the center of the supported part 70d to the center of the third contact face 70c as viewed from the direction of the rotational

axis of the developing roller 13 is denoted by D10, as illustrated in Fig. 27(b).

In the same way, the distance from the center of the supported part 70d to the part of the first contact face 70a that is pressed by the driving-side apparatus pressing member150isDlI. The relationship between distance D1O and distance D1I is

DI0<Dl.

[00201] Accordingly, the third contact face 70c of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 that comes into contact with one end 71d of the

driving-side developing pressure spring 71 is disposed between the supported part

70d and the first contact face 70a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70

in the direction of protruding direction M2. That is to say, the relationship

between distance W10 from the supported part 70d to the third contact face 70c

and distance Wi I from the supported part 70d to the first contact face 70a is

W10 < W1 1.

1002021 Thus, the relationship between W 12, which is the amount of movement of the first contact face 70a, and the amount of movement W 13 of the

is third contact face 70c, is

W13<W12

where

W13= W12 x (W 10 / W11).

[002031 Accordingly, even in a case where there is error in the positional

precision of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, the change in the

amount of compression of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 is

smaller than the error of the positional precision of the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 150. Consequently, the precision of the pressing force to

pressure the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 can be

improved. The non-driving side has the same configuration, and accordingly

the same advantages can be had.

1002041 Also, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non- driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 are disposed overlapping at least partially with the range of the total length Ll3a of the developing roller 13 in the longitudinal direction, as described earlier (see Fig. 24). Accordingly, positional difference in the longitudinal direction of the first contact faces 70a and 72a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72, and the driving-side supported part 13a and non driving-side supported part 13c of the developing roller 13, can be reduced. The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 receives force F I(see Fig. 27(a)), and the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 receives external force FH II

(see Fig. 29(c)). As a result of having reduced the above-described positional

difference, the moment acting on the driving-side developing bearing 36 and non

driving-side developing bearing 46 can be suppressed. Thus, the developing

roller 13 can be efficiently pressed into contact with the photosensitive drum.

[002051 Also, as described above, the rotating operations of the driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 72 (directions of arrows N9 and N10 in Fig. 27(a), and directions of arrows

NH9 and NH10 in Figs. 29(c) and 29(d)) can be independently rotated without

influencing each other. Thus, when the developing roller 13 is in a state of

being pressured against the photosensitive drum 10, the position of the driving

side apparatus pressing member 150 in the direction of arrows N7 and N8 (see

Figs. 25(a) and 25(b)) and position of the non-driving-side apparatus pressing

member 151 in the direction of arrows N7 and N8 (see Fig. 26(b)) can be

independently set. Further, there is no need to match the direction of rotating of

the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 (directions of arrows N9 and N10 in Fig. 27(a), and

directions of arrows NH9 and NHIO in Figs. 29(c) and 29(d)). Asaresult,the

magnitudes and directions of the pressing forces F1 and FHI1 to pressure the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 at the driving side and non-driving side can each be optimized. Further, even in a case where there is relative error in the positions of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151, this does not influence the pressing forces F11 and FH1 of each other. Consequently, the contact pressure of the developing roller 13 as to the photosensitive drum 10 can be made to be highly precise.

1002061 Note that the position of the developing cartridge B Iat which the photosensitive drum 10 and developing roller 13 can come into contact to

develop an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 10 will be

referred to as a contact position. On the other hand, the position of the

developing cartridge B) at which the photosensitive drum 10 and developing

roller 13 are spaced will be referred to as a spaced position. The developing

cartridge Bl has a configuration whereby the developing cartridge B Ican select

between the contact position and spaced position, by a later-decided mechanism.

<Configuration of Electric Connection Between Developing Cartridge and

Apparatus Main Body by Pressuring Mechanism>

[002071 Next, the configuration of electrical connection between the developing cartridge BI and apparatus main body Al will be described with

reference to Figs. 38(a) and 38(b). When the developing cartridge B1 is in the

aforementioned contact position, the electrode portions 47a of the memory board

47 of the developing cartridge B1 are in contact with the electric supply contact

120A of the apparatus main body Al. The electric supply contact 120A has

spring properties, and accordingly is pressed inwards by the electrode portions

47a, by a predetermined amount from a shape 120Aa before mounting the

developing cartridge B1, as illustrated in Fig. 39. Accordingly, the electric

supply contact 120A imparts the developing cartridge Bi with contact pressure

.74

FH13 in the direction of the developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10

moving away from each other. On the other hand, the force FHI Ithat brings

the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 closer together is acting

on the developing cartridge B1, as illustrated in Fig. 38(a). At this time, the

non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is pressed from a first position in

contact with the contact face 46e of the non-driving-side developing bearing 46,

to a second position where the protrusion 72f has been brought closer to the

developing roller 13 by the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151, as

illustrated in Fig. 38(a). The electrode portions 47a are at the downstream side

of the movement direction W from the first position to the second position, with

the movement direction W and the surface (exposed face) of the electrode

portions 47a intersecting.

[00208] Accordingly, the force FH I 1 that moves the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 in the direction W, and the contact pressure FH13,

have opposite force components. Now, a certain level of contact pressure FH13

or higher is necessary to stabilize the electric contact between the electrode

portions 47a and the electric supply contact 120A. The present configuration

has the magnitude of the force FHI Iof the non-driving-side developing pressure

spring 73 set, taking the contact pressure Fl 3 into consideration, in addition to for

pressuring the elastic layer of the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive

drum 10 in a stable manner. That is to say, both ensuring contact pressure FH13

where the electric contact is stable, and pressuring the developing roller 13

against the photosensitive drum 10, can be realized by the force Fl-I 1.

Accordingly, the electrode portions 47a and electric supply contact 120A are

electrically connected, so communication between the electric board (omitted

from illustration) of the apparatus main body and the electrode portion 47a is

enabled.

[002091 Now, a case may be conceived where the external force FH12 of

the non-driving-side biasing unit 77 is raised to secure contact pressure FH13.

However, in this case, there is the need to increase the biasing force of the non

driving-side pressing spring 85 so that the developing cartridge B Idoes not come

loose from the non-driving-side swing guide 81 (See Figs. 26(a) and 26(b)). On

the other hand, the non-driving-side pressing spring 85 is pressed down by

operating force of the user when the developing cartridge B1 is mounted to the

non-driving-side swing guide 81, as described earlier. Accordingly, there user

will need to mount the developing cartridge BI using a greater force. As

described above, attempting to ensure the contact pressure FH13 by the force

FH12 of the non-driving-side biasing unit 77 may load to poorer operability for

the user. Accordingly, securing the contact pressure FH13 by the force FH Il lI of

the non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73, as in the present embodiment,

enables the developing cartridge B Ito be positioned without making the

operability poor for the user.

[00210] Also, the relationship between the electrode portion 47a and the

non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 in the present embodiment can be

rephrased as follows. For example, the distance between the electrode portion

47a and the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 will be referred to as

Ll in the first position, and L2 in the second position, in the normal line direction

Z of the electrode portion 47a at the contact part of the electric supply contact

120A, as illustrated in Fig. 38(b). The electrode portion 47a at this time is

situated so that L2 < Ll holds. Accordingly, the force to move the non-driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 72 from the first position to the second position

can be used to secure the contact pressure FH13.

[002111 Further, the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72, non driving-side developing pressure spring 73, and memory board 47 are each attached to the non-driving-side developing bearing 46 in the present embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 38(a). That is to say, the positions of the electrode portion

47a that is the operating part for the contact pressure F13 and the non-driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 72 that is the operating part for the force FH11 are

S disposed on the same plane orthogonal to the axis LO of the developing roller 13.

In other words, the electrode portion 47a and non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 are at least partially overlapping with regard to the

direction of axis LO of the developing roller 13. Accordingly, the attitude of the

developing cartridge B Ican be stabilized even further, since occurrence of

moment between the contact pressure F13 and force FHI 1, having a rotational

axis T in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the developing roller, can be

reduced.

[002121 Also, the memory board 47 is attached not to the driving side but to the bearing 46 at the non-driving-side. If the memory board 47 were to be

provided to the driving side, the memory board 47 might be affected by the

driving force acting on the coupling member 180. However, the memory board

47 is provided to the non-driving-side developing bearing 46 in the present

embodiment, and thus is less readily affected by the driving force, thereby

stabilizing the contact pressure FHI 3.

100213] Fig. 28(a) is an explanatory diagram for describing the state of the developing cartridge B Iwhen transitioning from the contact state between the

developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 to the spaced state. Fig. 28(c)

is a detailed diagram of the periphery of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 in Fig. 28(a), with the driving-side swing guide 80 and developing side

cover 34 being omitted from illustration for the sake of description.

[00214] Fig. 28(b) is an explanatory diagram explaining the spaced state of the developing cartridge B Iwhere the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced. Fig. 28(d) is a detailed diagram of the periphery of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 in Fig. 28(b), with the driving-side swing guide 80 and developing side cover 34 being omitted from illustration for the sake of description.

[00215] Now, in the case of the contact developing system as in the present

embodiment, there is concern that the rubber part 13b of the developing roller 13

might become deformed if the state where the developing roller 13 is in contact

with the photosensitive drum 10, as in Fig. 27(a), is constantly maintained.

Accordingly, the developing roller 13 is preferably spaced from the

photosensitive drum 10 when not developing. That is to say, a state where the

developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 as illustrated in

Fig. 27(a), and a state where the developing roller 13 is spaced from the

photosensitive drum 10 as illustrated in Fig. 28(b), is preferable.

100216] The spaced part 70g, protruding in the direction of the developing roller 13, is provided to the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70. The

spaced part 70g has a configuration capable of engaging the first contact face

150a provided to the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 provided to the

apparatus main body Al. Further, the driving-side apparatus pressing member

150 has a configuration that can move in the directions of arrow N7 and arrow

N8 under driving force from a motor omitted from illustration.

1002171 Next, operations of the developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 transitioning to the spaced state will be described. In the contact state

between the developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 illustrated in Fig.

27(a), the first contact face 150a and the spaced part 70g are spaced in a state

where there is a gap of distance 65 therebetween.

[002181 On the other hand, Fig. 28(a) illustrates a state where the driving- side apparatus pressing member 150 has moved in the direction of arrow N8 by a distance 56, which is a state where contact between the first contact face 70a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the second contact face 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 is separated. At this time, the first contact face 70a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 rotates in the direction of arrow N10 centered on the supported part 70d, under biasing force F10 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71, and the driving-side restricting contact part 70e of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 comes into contact with the restricting part 36b of the driving-side bearing member 36. Accordingly, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and driving-side bearing member 36 are positioned. Fig. 28(b) illustrates a state where the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 has moved in the direction of arrowN8 by a distance 57. The driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 having moved in the direction of arrow N8 brings the separated face 70g of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the first contact face 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 into contact. At this time, the driving-side restricting contact part 70e of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the restricting part 36b of the driving-side bearing member 36 are in contact, wo the developing cartridge B Iis moved in the direction of the arrow N8.

Now, the developing cartridge B1 is positioned to the driving-side swing guide

80 that is supported by the driving-side side plate 90 so as to be capable of sliding

in the direction of arrow N3 and direction of arrow N4 and capable of rocking in

the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6, which will be described later with

reference to Figs. 41(a) through 41(d). Accordingly, moving the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 150 in the direction of the arrow N8 rocks the

developing cartridge B Iin the direction of arrow N5. At this time, the

developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 are spaced with a gap of distance 58 therebetween.

[00219] The non-driving side also has the same configuration as the

driving side, with the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 moving in

the direction of arrow NH8 by a distance 8h7 in a state where the non-driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 72 and are in contact, as illustrated in Fig. 29(b)

and Fig. 29(d). Accordingly, the developing cartridge B Iis of a configuration

to rotate in the direction of arrow N5 centered on the supported protrusion 81g of

the swing guide 81, with the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10

being spaced from each other by a distance 88.

100220) Thus, the contact state and spaced state of the photosensitive drum

10 and developing roller 13 are selected as necessary, by the position of the

driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and non-driving-side apparatus

pressing member 151 provided to the apparatus main body Al.

[00221] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 protrudes from the

is developing container 16 so as to form the outer shape of the developing cartridge

B When viewed at a cross-section at the position of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70, and as viewed from the rotational axis LO of the

developing roller 13, which is illustrated in Fig. 27(a). Accordingly, engaging

of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 150 is facilitated. The configuration also is such that a part of

the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 can be used to move the developing

cartridge B Ibetween the contact position and spaced position. The same holds

true of the non-driving side as well.

[00222] When transitioning from the contact state of the developing roller

13 and photosensitive drum 10 illustrated in Fig. 27(a) to the spaced state of the

developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 illustrated in Fig. 28(b), the

driving-side swing guide 80 and the developing cartridge BIrotate integrally.

Accordingly, the state of the guide part 55e of the coupling lever 55 being

retracted from the guided part 180d of the coupling member 180 is maintained

(Fig. 28(b)).

1002231 Further, when the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are in the spaced state illustrated in Fig. 28(b), the guided part 180d of

the coupling member 180 and the guide part 185d of the coupling spring 185

come into contact. Accordingly, the coupling member 180 receives the force Fl,

and assumes the above-described first inclined attitude DI.

[00224] As described above, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70

1o and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 each have a pressured face

(first contact faces 70a and 72a) and a separated face (second contact faces 70g

and 72g). Pressuring faces (second contact faces 150b and 151b) and separating

faces (150a and 15 1 a) of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and

non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 act upon these, respectively.

Accordingly, the contact state and spaced state of the photosensitive drum 10 and

developing roller 13 can be selected as necessary (see Figs. 27(a), 28(a), and

28(b)), by the solitary parts of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and

the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72. As a result, the configuration

of the developing cartridge B1 can be simplified. Also, the contact state and

spaced state can be controlled by the solitary parts, so the timing of transitioning

from the contact state to the spaced state, for example, can be made highly

precise.

100225] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the non driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 are provided independently at the ends

of the developing cartridge B Iin the longitudinal direction, as illustrated in Fig.

24. Accordingly, there is no need to provide a coontacting/spacing lever over

the entire longitudinal direction, so the size of the developing cartridge Bl can be reduced (region Y1 in Fig. 24). Accordingly, the region Y1 can be used for space for component parts of the apparatus main body Al, so the size of the apparatus main body Al can also be reduced.

<Movement of Coupling Member in Conjunction with Operation from Separated

s State to Contact State>

[00226] Next, the movement of the coupling member 180 in conjunction

with the contact operation and spacing operation of the photosensitive drum 10

and developing roller 13 will be described with reference to Figs. 30 and 31.

[00227] First, the disengagement operation of the coupling member 180

1o and the main body side drive member 100 when the developing cartridge BI

moves from the spaced state to the contact state will be described.

[00228] Fig. 30 is explanatory diagrams illustrating the engagement state of the coupling member 180 and main body side drive member 100 in the

developing contact state and the developing spaced state.

1002291 Fig. 31 is explanatory diagrams illustrating the engagement state

of the coupling member 180 and main body side drive member 100 in the

developing contact state and the developing spaced state, as viewed from the side

at the driving side.

1002301 While forming images, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is pressed by biasing force Fl by the driving-side apparatus pressing member

150, as illustrated in Fig. 31(a). The developing roller 13 of the developing

cartridge B Iand the photosensitive drum 10 are in the developing contact state,

in contact at a predetermined pressure. The coupling member 180 is at the

reference attitude DO as illustrated in Fig. 30(a). The developing cartridge B Iat

this time is situated at an engaged position where the rotational force receiving

part 180a of the coupling member 180 and the rotational force applying part 100a

of the main body side drive member 100 are engaged. The developing cartridge

B2

B1 is in a state where driving can be transmitted from the main body side drive

member 100 to the coupling member 180, by force from a rotating motor

(omitted from illustration).

[002311 Further, the guide part 55e of the coupling lever 55 is held in a state completely retracted from the guided part 180b of the coupling member 180

(see Figs. I (a) through 11(c)). The reason is that the rotation restricting part

55y of the coupling lever 55 abuts the abutting part 80y of the driving-side swing

guide 80, and the rotation in the direction of arrow XI centered on the rotational

axis L Ithereof is restricted, as described above (see Figs. I(a) through 1(c)

for this as well).

[00232] Next, the attitude of the coupling member 180 in the process of the

developing cartridge B Imoving from the developing contact state to the

developing spaced state will be described.

[00233] As illustrated in Fig. 31(b), when image forming ends, the driving side apparatus pressing member 150 and the non-driving-side apparatus pressing

member 151 (omitted from illustration) move in the direction of arrow N8.

When the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 moves in the direction of

arrow N8, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 rotates in the direction of

arrow N10, by the biasing force of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71

(see Fig. 28(b)). From this state where the driving-side restricting contact part

70e of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the positioning part 36b

of the driving-side developing bearing 36 are in contact, the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 150 further moves in the direction of arrow N8. The

developing cartridge B Ithen, integrally with the driving-side swing guide 80,

rotates in the direction of arrow N5 centered on the supported protrusion 80g of

the driving-side swing guide 80. This holds true with the non-driving side as

well, with developing cartridge B1 integrally with the non-driving-side swing guide 81 rotating in the direction of arrow N5 centered on the supported protrusion 8 Ig of the non-driving-side swing guide 81 (omitted from illustration).

This state is the developing spaced state, where the developing roller 13 and the

photosensitive drum 10 are spaced. The developing cartridge B Iand the

driving-side swing guide 80 move integrally, so the guide part 55e of the

coupling lever 55 is held in the state completely retracted from the guided part

180b of the coupling member 180 in the state illustrated in Fig. 31(b) as well.

This is because the abutting part 80y is integrally formed with the driving-side

swing guide 80, as described earlier (see Fig. 20(b)). On the other hand, the

1o biasing force of the coupling spring 185 is acting upon the coupling member 180.

Accordingly, in conjunction with the developing cartridge BI moving from the

contact state to the spaced state, the axis L2 of the coupling member 180

gradually includes from the state of the reference attitude DO to the direction of

the first inclined attitude DI, as illustrated in Fig. 30(b). Thedeveloping

cartridge B Ithen further rotates in the direction of arrow N5, and when the state

in Fig. 31(c) is reached, the inclining motion of the coupling member 180 ends.

At this time, the phase-restricting boss 180e of the coupling member 180 engages

the first inclination restricting part 36kbl of the driving-side developing bearing

36 (see Fig. I (b)), and the axis L2 of the coupling member 180 is held at the

first inclined attitude DI. As described earlier, the first inclined attitude D Iof

the coupling member 180 is an attitude where the rotational force receiving part

180a of the coupling member 180 is facing in the direction of the main body side

drive member 100 of the apparatus main body Al. In the state illustrated in Fig.

31(c), the developing cartridge Bl is situated at a disengaged position, where the

engagement of the rotational force receiving part 180a of the coupling member

180 and the rotational force applying part I00a of the main body side drive

member 100 has been disengaged. Accordingly, the state is such that there is no driving transmission of the force of the motor (omitted from illustration) from the main body side drive member 100 to the coupling member.

[00234] The state illustrated in Fig. 31(a) is the attitude of the developing

cartridge B Iwhen forming images in the present embodiment. The coupling

member 180 and the main body side drive member 100 are engaged, and driving

force is being input from the apparatus main body Al. The configuration is

such that when the developing cartridge B1 moves from the state illustrated in

Fig. 31(a) to Fig. 31(b), and to Fig. 31(c), the engagement between the coupling

member 180 and the main body side drive member 100 is disengaged. Inother

words, the configuration is such that, in the process of the developing cartridge

B Moving from the contact state to the spaced state, driving input from the

apparatus main body Al to the developing cartridge B Iis cut off. The main

body side drive member 100 of the apparatus main body Al is rotating while the

developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced, with regard to

the developing cartridge Bl. This means that the configuration is such that the

developing roller 13 can be spaced from the photosensitive drum 10 while

rotating.

<Movement of Coupling Member in Conjunction with Operation from Contact

State to Separated State>

[00235] Next, the engaging operations of the coupling member 180 and

main body side drive member 100 at the time of the developing cartridge BI

moving from the contact state to the spaced state will be described.

1002361 The developing contact operations of the developing cartridge BI are the opposite from the above-described developing spacing operations. In the

state illustrated in Fig. 31(b), the developing cartridge B Iis situated at a

disengaged position whether engagement between the rotational force receiving

part I80a of the coupling member 180 and the rotational force applying partI00a of the main body side drive member 100 is disengaged. The state illustrated in

Fig. 31(b) is a state where the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and

the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 have moved in the direction

of arrow N7 from the state illustrated in Fig. 31(c). The developing cartridge BI

and the driving-side swing guide 80 are integrally rotated in the direction of

arrow N6 by the biasing force of the above-described driving-side biasing unit 76

(see Figs. 25(a), 25(b)27(a), and 27(c)). This holds true for the non-driving side

aswell. Accordingly, the developing cartridge Bl moves from the spaced state

to the contact state. Fig. 30(b) is a partway stage of the developing cartridge BI

transitioning from the spaced state to the contact state. This also is a state where

the circular part 180f of the coupling member 180 and the main body side drive

member 100 are in contact. Specifically, the recessed conical part 180g

disposed on the inner side of the circular part 180f of the coupling member 180,

and the protrusion IOOg disposed on the axial tip of the main body side drive

member 100, are in contact. The rotational axis L2 of the coupling member 180

is inclined in the direction of the main body side drive member 100 from the state

illustrated in Fig. 30(c) to the state illustrated in Fig. 30(b), so the coupling

member 180 and the main body side drive member 100 can be readily engaged.

1002371 Further moving the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 in the direction of arrow N7

from the state illustrated in Fig. 30(b) completes engagement of the coupling

member 180 and the main body side drive member 100, as illustrated in Fig.

30(a). At this time, the developing cartridge B Iis situated in an engaged

position where the rotational force receiving part 180a of the coupling member

180 and the rotational force applying part 100a of the main body side drive

member 100 are engaged, and the coupling member 180 assumes the reference

attitude DO. The process of the coupling member 180 transitioning from the first inclined attitude Dl to the reference attitude DO is the same as the process of the coupling member 180 transitioning from the second inclined attitude D2 to the reference attitude DO at the time of mounting the developing cartridge B1 to the apparatus main body Al (see Figs. 21(a) through 21(h)).

[002381 In the present embodiment, the main body side drive member 100

is made to rotate by driving signals from the apparatus main body Al before

engagement of the coupling member 180 and main body side drive member 100

is started in the state illustrated in Fig. 31(b). Accordingly, the configuration is

such that the coupling member 180 and main body side drive member 100 engage

partway through the developing cartridge BI moving from the state illustrated in

Fig. 31(c) to the state in Fig. 31(b), and in Fig. 31(a), whereby driving is input to

the developing cartridge Bl. In other words, the configuration is such that in the

process of the developing cartridge B Imoving from the spaced state to the

contact state, driving is input from the apparatus main body A l to the developing

cartridge B1. This is because the configuration is such that the coupling

member 180 is movable in the direction ofN9 that is the movement direction of

the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 (see Figs. 27(a) through 27(c)). The main body

side drive member 100 of the apparatus main body Al is rotating before the

developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 come into contact. As a

result, the configuration is such that the developing roller 13 can be brought into

contact with the photosensitive drum 10 while rotating. Thus, the speed

difference of the circumferential faces of the photosensitive drum 10 and the

developing roller 13 can be reduced with the developing roller 13 and the

photosensitive drum 10 come into contact, so wear of the photosensitive drum 10

and the developing roller 13 can be reduced.

[00239] In a case where the motor that the apparatus main body Al has is solitary, a clutch mechanism is necessary to cut off transmission of rotational force to the developing roller 13 while transmitting rotational force to the photosensitive drum 10. That is to say, there is a need to provide a clutch mechanism that can selectively cut off driving transmission at the driving s transmission mechanism that transmits rotational force from the motor to the developing roller 13. However, in the present embodiment, engaging and disengaging of the coupling member 180 and main body side drive member 100 is selected in the process of the developing cartridge B1 moving from the contact state to the spaced state, or moving from the spaced state to the contact state.

Accordingly, there is no need to provide a clutch mechanism to the apparatus

main body Al or developing cartridge BI, so a developing cartridge Bl and

apparatus main body Al that is less expensive and consumes less space can be

realized.

(Contact of Separated Face of Driving-Side Contact/Separation Lever)

[00240] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 has the separated 70 face 70g protruding toward the developing roller 13 side from a tip part p in

the protrusion direction of the first protrusion 70f, as illustrated in Fig. 41(a).

From another perspective, the tip of the first protrusion 70f has a shape curved

toward the developing roller 13 side, and the separated face 70g is formed on this

curved tip part.

[002411 Figs. 41(a) through 41(d) are explanatory diagrams regarding

whether or not there is the protruding separated face 70g. Fig. 41(a) illustrates

the present embodiment having the separated face 70g protruding toward the 7 0p in the protrusion direction of the developing roller 13 side from the tip part

first protrusion 70f. Fig. 41(b) is an enlarged diagram of the periphery of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 in Fig. 41(a). Fig. 41(c) illustrates an

example of a separated face 470g not protruding toward the developing roller 13 side from the tip part 70p in the protrusion direction of the first protrusion 70f.

Fig. 41(d) is an enlarged diagram of the periphery of a driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 470 in Fig. 41(c).

1002421 The separated face 70g of the driving-side coontacting/spacing s lever 70 and the first contact face 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing

member 150 come into contact, and the developing roller 13 and photosensitive

drum 10 are separated by a gap of S8, as illustrated in Fig. 41.

1002431 The point at which the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 comes into contact with the first contact face 150a of the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 150 at the separated face 70g is a contact point 70q, as

illustrated in Fig. 41(a) and Fig. 41(b). The point at which the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 150 comes into contact with the separated face 70g of

the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 at the first contact face 150a is a

contact point 150q.

[002441 The first contact face 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing

member 150 applies a spacing force F17 to the separated face 70g of the driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 70 by the contact point 150q, as illustrated in Fig.

41(b). Accordingly, the separated face 70g of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 receives reactive force Fl8 at the contact point 70q.

2o At this time, the reactive force F18 is divided into a force component F19 that is

parallel to the first contact face 150a, and a force component F20 that is

perpendicular to the first contact face I50a.

[00245] The direction of the force component F 19 is in a direction parallel to the first contact face 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150,

so the separated face 70g of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70

receives force in the direction of the force component F19 while in contact with

the first contact face 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150.

1002461 As illustrated in Fig. 41(a), the developing cartridge B Iis positioned to the driving-side swing guide 80 that can rock in the directions of

arrow N5 and arrow N6, centered on the supported protrusion 80g at the driving

side side plate (omitted from illustration). Further, the driving-side swing guide

80 is supported by the driving-side side plate (omitted from illustration) so as to

be capable of sliding in the direction of arrow N3 and in the direction or arrow

N4 when the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10,

such that the axis of the developing roller 13 can be corrected to be parallel to the

axis of the photosensitive drum 10. The same holds true for the non-driving

side as well, so the developing cartridge B Iis capable of rotating in the directions

of arrow N5 and arrow N6 centered on the supported protrusion 80g, and capable

of sliding in the direction of arrow N3 and in the direction of arrow N4.

[002471 Further, the position of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

70 is decided by the driving-side restricting contact part 70e of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the restricting part 36b of the driving-side

bearing member 36 coming into contact, as described earlier. Accordingly,

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 receives the force component F19,

causing the developing cartridge B Ito attempt to rotate in the direction of arrow

N5 centered on the supported protrusion 80g, and to slide in the direction of

arrow Ni l.

1002481 Accordingly, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 attempts to move in the direction of force component F19. Thisdirectionof

movement is a direction of movement of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 towards the base side of the first contact face 150a of the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 150, and is the direction whereby the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is engaged by the driving-side apparatus pressing

member 150.

[002491 On the other hand, as illustrated in Fig. 41(d), the first contact face 450a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 450 applies a spacing force

F21 to the separated face 470g of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470

by the contact point 450q. Accordingly, the separated face 470g of the driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 470 receives reactive force F22 at the contact point

470q. At this time, the reactive force F22 is divided into a force component F23

that is parallel to the separated face 470g, and a force component F24 that is

perpendicular to the separated face 470g.

[002501 The positions of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470

and a driving-side bearing member 436 are decided by the driving-side restricting

contact part 470e of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470 and a

restricting part 436b of the driving-side bearing member 436 coming into contact.

Accordingly, driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470 receives the force

component F23, causing the developing cartridge B1 to attempt to rotate in the

direction of arrow N5 centered on the supported protrusion 80g, and to slide in

the direction of arrow N4.

[00251] Accordingly, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470

attempts to move in the direction of force component F23. Thus, the driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 470 comes into contact with the first contact face

2o 450a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 450 at a tip part 4 7 0 p side in

the protruding direction of a first protrusion 470f, and the amount of engagement

of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470 as to the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 450 decreases.

100252] Thus, the amount of protrusion for the first protrusion 470f of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470 needs to be increased by an amount

equivalent to the amount of movement in the direction of force component F23,

requiring space.

[002531 From the above, the amount of engagement can be set smaller in a case of being provided with the separated face 70g protruding toward the

developing roller 13 side from the tip part 70p in the protrusion direction of the

first protrusion 70f. That is to say, in this case, the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 engages the driving-side apparatus pressing member

150 more at the time of the developing roller 13 spacing from the photosensitive

drum 10, as compared with a case where a protruding separated face 70g is not

provided. As a result, the engaged state of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 to the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 can be maintained

even if the amount of engagement is set to be small. Reducing the amount of

engagement of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 150 leads to reduction in size of the developing

cartridge BL.

<Effects of Placement of Driving-Side Contact/Separation Lever 70, Driving

Side Developing Pressure Spring 71, and Restricting Part 36b Of Driving-Side

Developing Bearing 36>

[00254] The configuration is such that the biasing force F10 of the driving

side developing pressure spring 71 is generated by the driving-side developing

pressure spring 71 being compressed between the third contact face 70c of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the contact face 36d of the driving

side developing bearing 36, which has been described so far (see Figs. 1(a) and

1(b)). The same holds true for the non-driving side as well.

[002551 Particularly, the compression is such that when performing developing pressuring, the developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 come

into contact using the biasing force FIOa generated by the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 rotating in the direction of arrow N9 centered on the

supporting part 36c of the driving-side developing bearing 36 (see Fig. 27(c)).

[00256] Further, when performing developing spacing, the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is rotated in the direction of arrow N10 centered on

the boss of the supporting part 36c of the driving-side developing bearing 36

using the biasing force F10, bringing the restricting contact part 70e of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 into contact with the restricting part

36b of the driving-side developing bearing 36. This restricts the position of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70. Further, the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 150 moves in the direction of arrow N8 with the second contact

face 70b of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the first contact

face 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 in contact. The

configuration is such that this spaces the developing roller 13 and the

photosensitive drum 10 (see Fig. 28(b)). That is to say, when performing

developing spacing, the configuration is such that the position of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is restricted using the driving-side developing

pressure spring 71 used for developing pressuring.

100257] Particularly, the developing cartridge B Iis of a configuration

detachably mountable to the apparatus main body Al, so the position of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is preferably precisely positioned in

order for the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 150 (see Fig. 25(b)) to be engaged in a sure manner.

The reason is that, in a case where the positioning precision of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is poor, measures such as those described below, for

example, need to be taken to engage the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70

and the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150.

1. Provide a greater distance (gap) between the first contact face 150a

and second contact face 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150.

2. Provide a smaller distance (thickness) between the first contact face

70a and second contact face 70b of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70.

[00258] However, these measures increase the amount of movement of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 of the apparatus main body Al in

the directions N8 and N9, resulting in a larger size of the apparatus main body Al.

1002591 According to the present configuration, the configuration is such that the position of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 when mounting

the developing cartridge BI to the apparatus main body Al is restricted using the

driving-side developing pressure spring 71 used when performing developing

pressuring. This contributes to reduction in size of the apparatus main body Al,

and also enables timing of spacing the photosensitive drum 10 and developing

roller 13, and the amount of spacion of the developing roller 13 from the

photosensitive drum 10, to be controlled with good precision.

[002601 Also, according to the present configuration, the configuration is such that the position of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 when

performing developing spacing can be positioned with good precision, using the

driving-side developing pressure spring 71 used for developing pressuring when

mounting the developing cartridge B1, when performing development spacing as

well. Also, the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 used for performing

developing pressuring is used to restrict the position of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70, so no new parts are required in particular.

100261] Both the first contact face 70a of receiving force to bring the developing roller 13 into contact with the photosensitive drum 10, and the second

contact face 70b to receive force for spacing, are provided on the solitary part that

is the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70. Consolidating functions in this

way enables the number of parts of the developing cartridge B Ito be reduced.

1002621 Also, according to the present embodiment, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 receive force from pressing members provided to the image forming apparatus main body, thereby enabling contact and spacing of the developing roller to and from the photosensitive drum to be performed while conserving space. This reduces the size of the image forming apparatus and developing cartridge. Also, increase in pressure applied to the electrode portion of the developing cartridge that electrically connects to the image forming apparatus main body when spacing the developing roller from the photosensitive drum can be suppressed.

Reducing the load applied to the electrode portion improves durability of the

electrode portion. The strength of the electrode portion can be suppressed, so

reduced costs can be achieved for the developing cartridge having the electrode

portion and the image forming apparatus having the developing cartridge.

[00263] Description has been made in the present embodiment where the developing cartridge B1 and the drum cartridge C are separated. That is to say,

the configuration is such that in the developing device, the photosensitive drum

10 is formed into a cartridge separate from the developing cartridge B1, and is

mounted/detached to/from the apparatus main body of the image forming

apparatus. However, application of the present embodiment is not restricted to

such configurations.

100264] The configuration of the present embodiment is applicable to configurations where the developing cartridge B1 and drum cartridge C are not

separated, for example. A configuration may be made where a process cartridge,

configured by rotatably joining the developing cartridge B1 (developing device)

to the drum cartridge C, is mounted/detached to/from the apparatus main body of

the image forming apparatus. That is to say, a configuration is conceivable

where a cartridge, having the photosensitive drum 10 and developing device

(process cartridge), has the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 disclosed in the present embodiment.

<Relationship Between Coupling Member 180, Driving-Side Contact/Separation

Lever 70, and Non-Driving-Side Contact/Separation Lever 72>

[00265] The coupling member 180 has a configuration where it is able to

move at least in the direction of N9 (see Fig. 27(c)), that is the movement

direction of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72. Accordingly, when the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72

move in the directions N9 and NI0, smooth action can be realized without

affecting the engagement between the coupling member 180 and the main body

side drive member 100.

[002661 Also, an arrangement is made where the direction of N6 that is the direction in which the developing roller 13 comes into contact with the

photosensitive drum 10, and N 13 that is the rotation direction of the coupling

member 180 (direction X6 in Fig. 8(b)), are the same direction, as illustrated in

Fig.27(a). According to this configuration, the force couple that the coupling

member 180 receives from the main body side drive member 100 acts as moment

rotating the developing cartridge B Iin the direction N6, centered on the

supported protrusion 80g. The moment in the direction N6, which is pressuring

force pressuring the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10, thus

acts on the developing roller 13.

1002671 Assuming a case where the rotational direction of the coupling member 180 was the opposite direction from the direction N6, moment would act

in the direction of the developing roller 13 escaping from the photosensitive drum

10 (the direction N5 in Fig. 27(a)) due to the rotational force of the coupling

member 180, so loss of pressuring force would occur. However, such loss of

pressuring force does not readily occur in the present configuration.

[00268] Also, the moment in direction N6 generated by the rotational force of the coupling member 180 is generated from negative torque necessary to rotate the coupling member 180. The load torque of the cartridge changes through part dimensions and endurance, so the moment in the direction N6 generated by the rotational force of the coupling member 180 also changes. On the other hand, the present embodiment also is a configuration where the coontacting/spacing levers 70 and 72 receive force from the apparatus main body Al, and bring the developing roller 13 into contact with the photosensitive drum 10. The pressuring force in the direction N6 due to the coontacting/spacing levers 70 and

72 is stipulated only be dimensions of parts, and there is no durability change.

[002691 Accordingly, the following arrangement is preferable in order to

bring the developing roller 13 into more stable contact with the photosensitive

drum 10. That is to say, the moment in the direction of N6 that occurs due to

the rotational force of the coupling member 180 is preferably smaller than the

moment in the direction N6 generated due to the coontacting/spacing levers 70

and 72 receiving force from the apparatus main body Al. Tothisend,the

distance connecting the supported protrusion 80g and the coupling member 180 is

shorter than the distance between the supported protrusion 80g of the driving-side

swing guide 80 and the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 in the present

embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 27(a). According to this configuration, the

moment in the direction N6 occurring due to the rotational force of the coupling

member 180 can be effectively used as pressuring force of the developing roller

13. Further, this configuration suppresses the effects of fluctuation in moment

in the direction N6 occurring due to the rotational force of the coupling member

180, so the developing roller 13 can be brought into contact with the

photosensitive drum 10 in a more stable manner.

[002701 Further, a direction parallel to a straight line Z31 connecting the

rotational center 13Z of the developing roller 13 and the rotational center of the coupling member 180 as viewed from the rotational axis direction of the developing roller 13 is the direction N14 (first direction), as illustrated in Figs.

1(a)and1(b). When viewing the developing frame from the rotational axis

direction of the developing roller 13, the developing roller 13 is disposed at one

end side of the developing frame with regard to the direction N14, and the first

protrusion 70f of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 (the first contact

face 70a and second contact face 70b in particular) is disposed at the other end

side of the developing frame. That is to say, the first protrusion 70f (first

contact face 70a and second contact face 70b in particular) is situated at a

position somewhat away from the developing roller 13.

[00271] Thus, space for disposing members such as the coupling member

180 and so forth, that are appropriate to be situated near the developing roller 13,

can be secured at the one end side of the developing frame. This improves the

degree of freedom of layout for members that are appropriate to be situated near

the developing roller 13 within the developing cartridge Bl. Accordingly,the

coupling member 180 is disposed at a position closer to the developing roller 13

as compared to the first protrusion 70f (first contact face 70a and second contact

face 70b) with regard to the direction N14 in the present embodiment, as viewed

from the rotational axis direction of the developing roller 13.

[00272] The driving-side developing bearing 36 also has a recording

medium contact part 36m that is capable of coming into contact with the

recording medium 2 conveyed toward the transfer nip portion 6a in the

conveyance guide 3d inside the apparatus main body A, in a state where the

developing cartridge B Iis mounted to the apparatus main body Al.

[00273] This will be described. As described above, the position of the

first protrusion 70f (first contact face 70a and second contact face 70b in

particular) is disposed at a position away from the developing roller 13 with regard to the direction N14. Accordingly, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 can be disposed at a position in the apparatus main body Al away from the developing roller 13, so the developing-roller-side part of the developing cartridge B Ithat comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 10 can be disposed near the conveyance guide 3d. This enables dead space between the developing cartridge B1 and the conveyance guide 3d to be reduced within the apparatus main body Al.

[00274] Thus, the developing cartridge B1 is disposed near the conveyance guide 3d in the present embodiment. Accordingly, the recording medium

contact part 36m is disposed at a position on the driving-side developing bearing

36 close to the developing roller 13 than the first protrusion 70f (first contact face

70a and second contact face 70b) with regard to the direction N14, when viewed

from the rotational axis direction of the developing roller 13.

[00275] Figs. 45(a) through 46(b) are diagrams illustrating the developing

side cover 34 in detail. Fig. 45(a) is a frontal view of the developing side cover

34 from the outer side, Fig. 45(b) is a rear view of the developing side cover 34

from the inner side, and Figs. 46(a) and 46(b) are perspective views as viewed

from the front and rear, respectively.

[002761 The developing side cover 34 is one frame member making up the

developing frame of the developing cartridge Bl. The developing side cover 34

is made up of a plate-shaped frontal part 34e, and a rear part 34f that is the rear

side thereof. The edge of the frontal part 34e has an edge part 34g surrounding

the rear part 34f provided protruding from the frontal part 34e.

[00277J A hole 34a in which the coupling member 180 is situated on the

inner side is provided passing through the frontal part 34e and the rear part 34f.

[002781 A first protrusion (positioning part) 34b is provided on the side of the hole 34a, protruding beyond the frontal part 34e. A second protrusion

(rotation stopper) 34c that is larger in the radial direction than the first protrusion

(positioning part) 34b and also protrudes beyond the frontal part 34e, is similarly

provided on the side of the first protrusion (positioning part) 34b. The second

protrusion (rotation stopper) 34c is at a position farther away from the hole 34a

than the first protrusion (positioning part) 34b.

1002791 A connecting part 34k is provided between the first protrusion (positioning part) 34b and the second protrusion (rotation stopper) 34c,

connecting the two, with a first groove 341 being provided between the

connecting part 34k and the frontal part 34e.

100280] A third protrusion (spring supporting part) 34h is provided between the hole 34a and the first protrusion (positioning part) 34b. The height

of the third protrusion (spring supporting part) 34h is lower than the first

protrusion (positioning part) 34b and the second protrusion (rotation stopper) 34c.

1002811 The opposing side of the third protrusion (spring supporting part) 34h across the hole 34a is a second groove (34o) where a groove is extending in

the circumferential direction. The second groove (34o) guides the coupling

spring 185.

[002821 A fourth protrusion (34p) made up of ridges 34 p I and 3 4 p2 is

provided beneath the first protrusion (positioning part) 34b. The ridges 34p1

and 34p2 intersect each other, the angle of intersection forming an obtuse angle.

The height of the fourth protrusion ( 3 4 p) is lower than the first protrusion

(positioning part) 34b and the second protrusion (rotation stopper) 34c.

[00283] An arc-shaped groove 34q that passes through the frontal part 34e and the rear part 34f is provided above the first protrusion (positioning part) 34b

and the second protrusion (rotation stopper) 34c. The arc-shaped groove 34q is

provided to externally expose the rotation restricting part 55y of the coupling lever 55 (see Fig. 12(a)).

[00284] The developing side cover 34 also has a cover part 34t. The

cover part 34t covers at least one of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70

and at least part of the spring 71, so as to not be exposed externally in the

longitudinal direction of the developing roller 13 (the direction of the rotational

axis of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70). Accordingly, the driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the spring 71 can be protected from

external shock, and also the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the

spring 71 can be prevented from coming loose from the driving-side developing

bearing 36. Note that it is sufficient for the cover part 34t to cover at least part

of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70, or at least part of the spring 71,

so as to not be exposed externally in the longitudinal direction of the developing

roller 13 (the direction of the rotational axis of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70).

[00285] Thus, consolidating various functional parts in the developing side

cover 34 enables the size to be reduced. The driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 can also be protected from external shock.

1002861 Figs. 47 and 48 are diagrams illustrating the driving-side developing bearing 36 in detail. Fig. 47(a) is a frontal view of the driving-side

developing bearing 36 from the outer side, Fig. 47(b) is a rear view of the

driving-side developing bearing 36 from the inner side, and Figs. 48(a) and 48(b)

are perspective views as viewed from the front and rear, respectively.

[002871 The driving-side developing bearing 36 is one frame member, that

is separate from the developing side cover 34 making up the developing frame of

the developing cartridge BL. The driving-side developing bearing 36 is made up

of a plate-shaped frontal part 36f, and a rear part 36g on the rear side thereof.

The edge of the frontal part 36f has an edge rear part 36h surrounding the rear

part 36g provided protruding from the frontal part 36f.

1002881 A hole 36a is provided passing through the frontal part 36f and the rear part 36g. The developing roller 13 is disposed on the inner side of the hole

36a, supporting the developing roller 13. Supporting may be performed directly

by the hole 36a, or supporting may be performed via a member.

1002891 A protrusion 36i is provided to the side of the hole 36a. The

protrusion 36i has a cylindrical shape. The phase-restricting part 36kb that

restricts the position of the phase-restricting boss I80e of the coupling member

180 is provided on the inner side of the protrusion 36i. The phase-restricting

part 36kb has a hole-shaped part that is generally triangular in shape, in which the

coupling member 180 is disposed. The phase-restricting part 36kb is made up

of the first inclination restricting part 36kbI and the second inclination restricting

part 36kb2, each making up part of a groove.

1002901 The supporting part 36c for supporting the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is provided at a position facing the hole 36a across

the protrusion 36i. The supporting part 36c has a protruding cylindrical shape.

100291] The restricting part 36b of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is provided below the supporting part 36c. The restricting part 36b has

the form of a wall protruding from the frontal part 36f, and is situated at the edge

of the driving-side developing bearing 36.

[002921 The contact face 36d for coming into contact with the driving-side

developing pressure spring 71 is provided below the protrusion 36i across the

restricting part 36b. The contact face 36d also has the form of a wall protruding

from the frontal part 36f, in the same way as the restricting part 36b.

1002931 A hole 36j is provided sandwiched between the restricting part 36b and contact face 36d as viewed from the frontal direction in Fig. 47(a), with regard to the direction in which the restricting part 36b and contact face 36d are arrayed. The hole 36j is provided to expose a driving gear and so forth.

1002941 Thus, the position of the coupling member 180 and the position of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 can be maintained with high

precision by the driving-side developing bearing 36. The position of the

developing roller 13 and the position of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 70 can also be maintained with high precision.

«Second Embodiment»

[00295] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to

Fig. 32. Fig. 32 is side views viewing the developing cartridge B Ifrom the

driving side.

[002961 Description has been made in the first embodiment regarding a configuration where the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 is rotatably

provided as to the driving-side developing bearing 36. However, a

configuration may be made where a driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 702 is

slidably provided as to a driving-side developing bearing 362, as illustrated in

Figs. 32(a) through 32(d). Descriptions which are not explained are of the same

configuration as the first embodiment.

[00297] Fig. 32(a) is a side view viewing a state where the developing

roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 from the driving side, and

a cross-sectional view around the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 702. A

protrusion 702b of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 702 further engages

groove 362c of the driving-side developing bearing 362. A protrusion 702j of

the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 702 engages a groove 342y of a

developing side cover 342. Accordingly, the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 702 is capable of sliding (linear motion) in directions of arrows N72 and

N82 with respect to the driving-side developing bearing 362 and developing side cover 342. A driving-side developing pressure spring 712 is provided with one end 712d in contact with a third contact face 702c of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 702 and the other end 712e in contact with a contact face 362d of the driving-side developing bearing 362. In this configuration, the developing cartridge B Ireceives external force F11 by the second contact face

150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 and a first contact face

702a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 702 coming into contact, in the

same way as in the first embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 32(b). Asaresult,the

developing roller 13 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 10 at a

predetermined pressure.

[00298] Next, the operations of transitioning to a state where the

developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10 are spaced will be described.

Fig. 32(c) illustrates a state where the driving-side apparatus pressing member

150 has moved in the direction of arrow N82 by a distance $6, and the first

contact face 702a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 702 and the

second contact face 150b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 have

separated. At this time, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 702 receives

biasing force F10 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71, slides in the

direction of arrow N82, and a restricting contact part 702e of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 702 comes into contact with the restricting part 362b of

the driving-side developing bearing 362. Thus, the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 702 is positioned.

[00299] Fig. 32(d) illustrates a state where the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 150 has moved in the direction of arrow N82 by a distance $7.

Due to the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 having further moved in

the direction of arrow N82, a separated face 702g of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 702 comes into contact with the first contact face 150a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150, further moving the developing cartridge B Iin the direction of arrow N82. As a result, the developing cartridge B Irocks in the direction of arrow N5, centered on the supported protrusion 80g of the swing guide 80 (omitted from illustration). At this time, the developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum 10 are in a spaced state, with a gap of distance 58 therebetween.

1003001 The non-driving side is of the same configuration as the driving side. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and

the same advantages as the first embodiment can be yielded (excluding, however,

1o the relationship between the positional error of the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 150 and the amount of compression of the driving-side

developing pressure spring 71 described in the first embodiment).

«Third Embodiment»

[00301] Next, a third embodiment to which the present invention has been

applied will be described with reference to Figs. 42(a) through 42(d).

Descriptions which are not explained are of the same configuration as the first

embodiment.

[00302] Fig. 42 is schematic diagrams where a driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201 is a leaf spring.

[00303] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201 illustrated in Figs.

42(a) through 42(d) is an elastic part formed of material such as stainless steel or

the like. The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201 has a first contact face

201a, a second contact face 201b, a supporting part 201d, and an elastic

deformation part 201 h, with the supporting part 201d being supported by a

supported part 202b of a bearing 202.

[00304] A driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 is provided with a

first contact face 203a and a second contact face 203b, and is capable of sliding in the direction of arrow N7 and the direction of arrow N8.

[003051 The developing cartridge B Iis positioned by a driving-side swing guide 210 supported at a driving-side side plate (omitted from illustration) so as

to be able of rocking in the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6 centered on a

supported part 210b. The non-driving side is the same, so the developing

cartridge Bi is rotatable in the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6 centered on

the supported part 21Ob.

[00306] When pressuring the photosensitive drum 10 and developing roller 13 together, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 moves in the

direction of arrow N7, as illustrated in Fig. 42(a). The second contact face 203b

of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 comes into contact with the

first contact face 201a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201.

[00307] Further, when the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203

moves in the direction of arrow N7, the second contact face 203b of the riving

side apparatus pressing member 203 deforms the elastic deformation part 201 h of

the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201, as illustrated in Fig. 42(b). In

this state, the second contact face 203b of the driving-side apparatus pressing

member 203 applies force F41 to the first contact face 201a of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 201. At this time, the second contact face 203b of the

driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 receives reactive force F42. Now,

the developing cartridge B is capable of rotating in the directions of the arrow

N5 and arrow N6 centered on the supported part 201b, so the developing

cartridge B Iis moved by the external force of force F41 in the direction of arrow

N5. Accordingly, the developing roller 13 comes into contact with the

photosensitive drum 10.

[003081 Further, when the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203

moves in the direction of arrow N7, the second contact face 203b of the driving- side apparatus pressing member 203 deforms the elastic deformation part 201h of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201, as illustrated in Fig. 42(c). In this state, the second contact face 203b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 applies force F45 to the first contact face 201a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201. At this time, the second contact face 203b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 receives reactive force F46 from the first contact face 201a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201. Since the developing roller 13 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 10 and the attitude of the developing cartridge BI is set,

F45 > F41

holds, and the developing roller 13 is pressured against the photosensitive drum

10 as illustrated in Fig. 42(c).

1003091 In a case of spacing the photosensitive drum 10 and the developing roller 13, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 moves in

the direction of arrow N8, as illustrated in Fig. 42(d). The first contact face

203a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 comes into contact with

the second contact face 201b of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201.

1003101 Further, when the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 moves in the direction of arrow N8, the first contact face 203a of the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 203 applies force F44 to the second contact face 201b

of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201 while deforming the elastic

deformation part 201h of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201.

1003111 At this time, the first contact face 203a of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 203 receives reactive force F43 from the second

contact face 201 b of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201.

1003121 Now, the developing cartridge B Iis capable of rotating in the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6 centered on the supported part 210b, so the developing cartridge B Imoves in the direction of arrow N6 centered on the supported part 21Ob, and the developing roller 13 is spaced from the photosensitive drum 10.

[003131 In this way, the elastic deformation part (elastic part) 201h and a part (movable part) having the first contact face 201a and second contact face

201b are integrally formed as a part of a single member in the present

embodiment. Specifically, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201 is

formed of a leaf spring. Accordingly, there is no need for the driving-side

developing pressure spring 71 (see Fig. 41(a)) serving as a biasing member that is

a compression spring, illustrated in the first embodiment. Thus, space can be

secured, so the degree of freedom of design of the developing cartridge BI

increases, or this leads to reduction in size.

[003141 Further, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201 has a pressured face (first contact face 201a) and separated face (second contact face

is 201b), as indicated in the first embodiment. The pressuring face (second contact

face 203b) and separating face (first contact face 203a) of the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 203 act thereupon, respectively. Accordingly, the

contact state and the spaced state of the photosensitive drum 10 and developing

roller 13 can be selected as necessary by the single part that is the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 201. Asa result, the configuration of the developing

cartridge B1 can be simplified.

[00315] Although the driving side has been representatively described in

the above description, the non-driving side may have the same configuration as

well. Also, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 201 may be a member

formed of an elastically deformable resin material or the like.

[00316] In any of the above-described embodiments, a configuration where

the movable part and elastic part of the present embodiment are integrally formed as one part of one member can be applied.

«Fourth Embodiment>>

[003171 Next, a fourth embodiment where the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to Figs. 43(a) and 43(b). The

placement of the part of the coontacting/spacing lever that receives biasing force

from the spring according to the present embodiment differs from the above

described embodiments. Descriptions which are not explained are of the same

configuration as the first embodiment.

[00318] Fig. 43 is schematic diagrams where a driving-side developing

pressure spring 302 is disposed on the opposite side of a line that passes through

the center of a supported part 301d of a driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

301 and is perpendicular to the direction of arrow Ml that is the direction of

protrusion of a first protrusion 301f, in the direction of arrow MI.

[003191 As illustrated in Fig. 43(a), the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301 has a first contact face 301a, a second contact face 301b, a third contact

face 30 1c, a supported part 301d, a restricting contact part 301e, and an other end

portion 301m. The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301 is rotatably

supported by a supporting part 306b as to a driving-side developing bearing 306

by a supported part 301d.

100320] The driving-side developing pressure spring 302 is a compression

spring, where one end portion 302d is in contact with the third contact face 301c,

while an other end portion 302e is in contact with a contact face 306d provided to

the driving-side developing bearing 306.

[003211 Now, in a solitary state of the developing cartridge BI, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301 receives force at the third contact face

301c, in the direction of arrow F30 from the driving-side developing pressure

spring302. At this time, rotation occurs in the direction of arrow NIO centered on the supporting part 306b, and the restricting contact part 301e comes into contact with a restricting part 306e of the driving-side developing bearing 306.

[003221 Also, the developing cartridge B Iis positioned by the driving-side swing guide 310 that is supported so as to be capable of rocking in the directions

of arrow N5 and arrow N6 centered on a supported part 31Ob of a driving-side

side plate (omitted from illustration). The non-driving side is also the same, so

the developing cartridge B Iis rotatable in the directions of arrow N5 and arrow

N6 centered on the supported part 31Ob.

1003231 A first contact face 303a and a second contact face 303b are provided to a driving-side apparatus pressing member 303, capable of sliding in

the directions of arrow N7 and arrow N8.

[00324] In a case of pressuring the photosensitive drum 10 and developing

roller 13, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 moves in the direction

of arrow N7. The second contact face 303b of the driving-side apparatus

pressing member 303 then comes into contact with the first contact face 30 1a of

the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301. The driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 301 is rotatable centered on the supporting part 306b,

so the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301 rotates in the direction ofN20,

and the restricting contact part 301e separates from the restricting part 306e.

[00325] At this time, the third contact face 301c of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 301 receives the biasing force F30 of the driving-side

developing pressure spring 302, and moment M10 in the direction of arrow N10

acts on the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301. At this time, the second

contact face 303b of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 and the first

contact face 301 a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301 are in contact.

Accordingly, the first contact face 301a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 301 receives force F32 from the second contact face 303b of the driving- side apparatus pressing member 303, so that a moment balanced with the moment

MIO will act on the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301. Accordingly,

this means that an external force of the force F32 is acting on the developing

cartridge BI.

1003261 Further, the developing cartridge B Iis capable of rotating in the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6 centered on the supported part 31Ob, so the

developing cartridge B Imoves in the direction of arrow N5 due to the external

force of force F32. At this time, the developing roller 13 comes into contact

with the photosensitive drum 10. The rotational attitude in the direction of

arrow N5 of the developing cartridge Bl is decided by the developing roller 13

coming into contact with the photosensitive drum 10.

1003271 Further, when the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 moves in the direction of arrow N7, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

301 rotates in the direction of N20 centered on the supporting part 306b, since the

developing cartridge B Icannot rotate in the direction of arrow N5. The third

contact face 301c of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301 then receives

biasing force F31 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 302 (see Fig.

43(b)).

[003281 Now, the driving-side developing pressure spring 302 is further compressed, so

F31 > F30

holds. The developing cartridge Bi is already incapable of rotating in the

direction of arrow N5, so the developing roller 13 is pressured against the

photosensitive drum 10.

[003291 In a case of spacing the photosensitive drum 10 and the

developing roller 13, the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 moves in

the direction of arrow N8, and the first contact face 303a comes into contact with the second contact face 301b. The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301 is capable of rotating in the direction of arrow N10 centered on the supporting part

306b, so the restricting contact part 301e comes in contact with the restricting

part 306e of the bearing 306, and the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301

is positioned.

[00330] When the driving-side apparatus pressing member 303 further

moves in the direction of arrow N8, the developing cartridge BI is rotatable in

the directions of arrow N5 and arrow N6 centered on the supported part 31Ob, so

the developing cartridge B1 moves in the direction of arrow N6 centered on the

supported part 310b. The developing roller 13 is then spaced from the

photosensitive drum 10.

1003311 In the present embodiment, the distance between the first contact face (force receiving part) 301a and third contact face (biasing force receiving

part) 301c is longer than the distance between the first contact face 301a and the

is supported part 301d, when viewed from the rotational axis direction of the

developing roller 13, as illustrated in Figs. 43(a) and 43(b). Accordingly, the

degree of freedom increases for placement of the positioning of a member

equivalent to the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 serving as a biasing

member that is a compression spring, described in the first embodiment, so

freedom of design also increases.

1003321 Further, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301 has the

pressured face (first contact face 301a) and the separated face (second contact

face 301g), as described in the first embodiment. The pressuring face (second

contact face 303b) and the separating face (first contact face 303a) of the driving

side apparatus pressing member 303 act upon these, respectively. Accordingly,

the contact state and the spaced state of the photosensitive drum 10 and

developing roller 13 can be selected as necessary by the single part that is the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 301. Asa result, the configuration of the developing cartridge B Ican be simplified.

1003331 The following configuration may be made as a modification of the fourth embodiment. In the present modification, a restricting part 336b is

provided to a driving-side developing bearing 336, as illustrated in Fig. 54. The

position of the pressure spring 71 is the same as the first embodiment in the

present embodiment, with a configuration where a protrusion (restricted part)

360b is provided across from the supporting part 36c so that the protrusion 360b

comes into contact with the restricting part 336b. The configuration where the

biasing force from the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 is received at a

biasing force receiving part 370c is the same as in the first embodiment.

[003341 According to the present embodiment, the freedom of placement of the restricting part 336b within the driving-side developing bearing 336

increases, Increasing the distance from the supporting part 36c enables force

applied to the restricting part 336b to be reduced, enabling suppression of

container deformation. That is to say, the relationship between the first contact

face 370a pressured from the second contact face 150b of the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 150, the supporting part 36c, and the protrusion 360b,

is as follows. The distance between the first contact face 370a and the

protrusion 360b is longer than the distance between the first contact face 370a

and the supporting part 36c, when viewed from the axis direction of the

developing roller 13. Although the driving side has been representatively

described in the above description, the non-driving side may have the same

configuration as well.

[003351 Also, the placement of the third contact face (force receiving part)

301c according to the present embodiment and/or the restricting part 336b

according to the present modification can be applied to any of the above- described embodiments.

«Fifth Embodiment»

1003361 Next, a fifth embodiment where the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to Fig. 50. The point of the present

embodiment that the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is disposed at

the non-driving side of the developing cartridge B1 alone differs from the above

described embodiments. Descriptions which are not explained are of the same

configuration as the first embodiment.

1003371 The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and driving-side developing pressure spring 71 are not provided to the driving side of the

developing cartridge B Iaccording to the present embodiment, as illustrated in

Fig. 50 (part in dotted line). On the other hand, the non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 and non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73

(omitted from illustration) are provided just to the non-driving side. Thatisto

say, the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 and non-driving-side

developing pressure spring 73 are disposed only at the side where the coupling

member 180 of the developing frame is not disposed, with regard to the direction

of the rotational axis of the developing roller 13. Note that the side where the

coupling member 180 of the developing frame is not disposed with regard to the

direction of the rotational axis of the developing roller 13 refers to the side from

the middle of the cartridge B Ion which the coupling member 180 is not disposed,

with regard to the direction of the rotational axis of the developing roller 13.

[003381 The coupling member 180 rotates in the direction of arrow X6 at the driving side, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The developing cartridge Bi that has

received the rotational force thereof rocks centered on the supporting part 90c

(see Fig. 27(a)) in the direction of arrow N6 illustrated in Fig. 27(a), integrally

with the driving-side swing guide 80. When there is sufficient moment in the direction N6 generated by the driving force that the coupling member 180 receives, this alone is sufficient to pressure the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 at the driving side.

[00339] On the other hand, the moment in the direction N6 generated by

the driving force that the coupling member 180 receives obtained at the non

driving side as not a great as that at the driving side, so the configuration uses the

non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 in the same way as in the first

embodiment.

[00340] The configuration according to the present embodiment where the

lo non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 is provided at only the non-driving

side can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments. Application of

the present embodiment can realize reduced costs due to reduction in the number

of parts from having omitted the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70.

«Sixth Embodiment»

[00341] A sixth embodiment where the present invention has been applied

will be described with reference to Figs. 51(a) through 52(b). Thepointofthe

present embodiment that a first force receiving part that receives force when

bringing the developing roller 13 into contact is provided at only one end of the

cartridge B1, and a second force receiving part that receives force at the time of

spacing the developing roller 13 is provided only at the other end, differs from

the above-described embodiments. Descriptions which are not explained are of

the same configuration as the first embodiment.

[003421 Fig. 51 is diagrams illustrating the developing roller 13 being in contact with the photosensitive drum 10. Fig. 51(a) is a diagram illustrating a

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 170 and a driving-side bearing 236 that

supports it, and Fig. 51(b) is a diagram illustrating the non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 and a non-driving-side developing bearing 246 that supports it.

100343] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 170 is rotatably supported by the driving-side bearing 236 at the driving side, which is the other

end with regard to the direction of the rotational axis of the developing roller 13,

as illustrated in Fig. 51. However,the driving-side developing pressure spring

71 such as illustrated in the first embodiment is not provided. Accordingly, when the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 moves in the direction of

arrow N7, the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 170 rotates in the

counterclockwise direction centered on a supporting part 236c. However, force

pressing the developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10 cannot be

imparted to the driving-side developing bearing 236 for operation of the driving

side coontacting/spacing lever 170. However, the driving side receives moment

in the direction that brings the developing roller 13 into contact with the

photosensitive drum 10, due to the coupling member 180 receiving driving force,

as in the fifth embodiment. Accordingly, the developing roller 13 can be

pressured against the photosensitive drum 10 by this moment.

[003441 On the other hand, the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

72, the same as in the first embodiment, is provided to the non-driving side,

which is the other end with regard to the direction of the rotational axis of the

developing roller 13. The first contact face 72a of the non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 presses the non-driving-side developing pressure

spring 73 by being pressed by the non-driving-side apparatus pressing member

151 that moves in the direction of N7 and rotating, thereby pressuring the

developing roller 13 against the photosensitive drum 10.

100345] Fig. 52 is diagrams illustrating the developing roller 13 being

spaced from the photosensitive drum 10.

100346] The driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 moving in the direction of arrow NS brings the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 170 into contact with a restricting part 236b of the driving-side developing bearing 236.

The driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 further moving in the direction

of arrow N8 presses a separated part 170g of the driving-side coontacting/spacing

lever 170, which moves the developing cartridge B1, and spaces the developing

roller 13 from the photosensitive drum 10.

[00347] Note that a configuration may be made where the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 170 is fixed to the driving-side bearing 236, or a part

equivalent to the separated part 170g may be formed integrally with the driving

io side developing bearing 236.

[003481 On the other hand, the non-driving side does not have the

restricting part 46e for the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72

illustrated in the first embodiment. Accordingly, moving the non-driving-side

apparatus pressing member 151 in the direction of arrow N8 only rotates the non

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 in the clockwise direction centered on a

supporting part 246f, and does not act to space the developing roller 13 from the

photosensitive drum 10. The non-driving-side developing pressure spring 73 is

at its natural length at this time. The non-driving-side developing pressure

spring 73 may be separated from the non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever

72 at this time.

[003491 However, force for spacing is being received at the driving side, so spacing can be performed at the non-driving side as well, by setting the rigidity of

the driving-side bearing 236 to a certain level or higher. At the time of this

spacing, the developing roller 13 may be spaced from the photosensitive drum 10

in an oblique manner. That is to say, the developing roller 13 spaces greatly

from the photosensitive drum 10 at the driving side, but the amount of spacing at

the non-driving side is smaller than at the driving side. Accordingly, the rigidity of the driving-side bearing 236 is increased so that the spacing amount is equal to or greater than a minimal value for the spacing amount necessary between the developing roller 13 and the photosensitive drum 10. Thus, the first force receiving part (first contact face 72a) that receives force at the time of bringing the developing roller 13 into contact is provided only at one end of the cartridge

B] in the present embodiment. Further, the second force receiving part

(separated part 170g) receiving force when spacing the developing roller 13 is

only provided at the other end of the cartridge Bl. That is to say, two parts (first

force receiving part and second force receiving part) that receive force from

different directions (opposite directions) from the apparatus main body, which are

the force at the time of bringing the developing roller 13 into contact and the

force at the time of spacing the developing roller 13, are provided to the

developing cartridge Bl. Further, these two parts (the first force receiving part

and the second force receiving part) as provided to one end and the other end of

is the developing cartridge B, with respect to the direction of the rotational axis of

the developing roller 13.

1003501 The configuration of the first force receiving part and the second force receiving part according to the present embodiment can be applied to any of

the above-described embodiments as well, excluding the fifth embodiment.

[00351] According to the present embodiment, the driving-side developing

pressure spring 71 becomes unnecessary, so reduced costs can be realized as

compared to the first embodiment. Also, the amount of motion of the

developing cartridge B Iwhen spacing can be smaller at the non-driving side, so

wear on the non-driving-side swing guide 81 movably supporting the developing

cartridge BI can be suppressed.

«Seventh Embodiment»

1003521 Next, a seventh embodiment where the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to Fig. 53. Descriptions which are not explained are of the same configuration as the first embodiment.

[00353] A configuration has been described in the first embodiment where

the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and the non-driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 72 are positioned in a state of being held between the

restricting parts 36b and 46e and the pressure springs 71 and 73. However, a

configuration may be made where a driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 270 is

not positioned between a driving-side developing pressure spring 171 and the

restricting part 36b (the same configuration may be made at the non-driving side

as well), as illustrated in Fig. 53. According to this configuration, application

can be made to a case where the free length of the driving-side developing

pressure spring 171 is short.

[003541 The spacing lever 270 comes into contact with the restricting part

36b due to the action of the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 moving

is in the direction N7 (see Fig. 28). The spacing lever 270 also compresses the

pressure spring 171 due to the action of moving in the direction N8. Now, the

restricting part 36b is provided at a position where it can restrict the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 from moving in a direction away from the

developing roller 13.

[00355J The configuration of the present embodiment can be applied to

any of the above-described embodiments.

«Eighth Embodiment>>

1003561 An eighth embodiment where the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to Figs. 55(a) through 56(b). The

configuration of the coupling member according to the present embodiment

differs from that in the above-described embodiments. Descriptions which are

not explained are of the same configuration as the first embodiment.

[003571 In the first embodiment, the coupling member 180 can be engaged with the main body drive member 100 that is rotating, and the coupling member

180 disengaged from the main body drive member 100 that is rotating, without

providing a clutch mechanism at the apparatus main body Al side. As for a

specific configuration to this end, this has been achieved by a configuration

where the coupling member 180 can be inclined.

[003581 A coupling configuration will be described in the present embodiment that can engage and disengage the main body drive member 100 that

is rotating, without providing a clutch mechanism at the apparatus main body Al

side, as in the first embodiment.

[00359] Fig. 55(a) is a perspective view illustrating a coupling member

280 provided to a developing cartridge B2 according to the present embodiment.

The developing side cover 34 is omitted from illustration. Fig. 55(b) is a

perspective view illustrating a state in which the coupling member 280 is being

assembled.

[00360] The coupling member 280 is configured to be capable of advancing and retreating in the direction of rotational axis L2 of the coupling

member 280 within the drive input gear 127. A biasing member 130 is disposed

between the coupling member 280 and the drive input gear 127, and the coupling

member 280 is constantly biased toward the outward side in the direction of axis

L2. Rotational force receiving parts 280a Iand 280a2 provided to the coupling

member 280 receive driving force from the main body side drive member 100

(see Figs. 8(a) through 8(e)). Further, rotational force transmitting parts 280cl

and 280c2 transmit driving to the developing roller 13 by transmitting driving

force to rotational force transmitted parts 127d Iand 127d2 of the drive input gear

127.

[00361] An external conical face 280e is provided on the tip side of the coupling member 280. This part coming into contact with the tip end face of the main body side drive member 100 (see Figs. 8(a) through 8(e)) causes retracting to the inner side in the direction of axis L2, and engagement with the main body side drive member 100. A conical part 280g is provided on the inner side of the external conical face 280e, in the same say as in the first embodiment, so coming into contact with the tip end face of the main body side drive member 100 causes retracting to the inner side in the direction of axis L2, and disengagement from the main body side drive member 100, in the same way.

[003621 According to the above configuration, engagement and disengagement to and from the main body drive member 100 that is rotating is

enabled, without providing a clutch mechanism to the apparatus main body A

side.

[00363] The driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70 and driving-side

developing pressure spring 71 are also provided in the same way as the first

embodiment.

100364] Fig. 56(a) is a frontal view of the present embodiment, and Fig. 56(b) is a cross-sectional view along A-A in Fig. 56(a).

100365] The coupling member 280 is supported by the biasing member 130 so as to be movable in the direction of the axis L2. A cylindrical outer diameter

part 280h (sliding part) provided to the coupling member 280 is slidably

supported within a cylindrical inner diameter part (slid part) 136h within a

driving-side developing bearing 136.

1003661 As illustrated in Fig. 56(b), the cylindrical outer diameter part 280h (sliding part) and the cylindrical inner diameter part (slid part) 136h are

disposed overlapping at least partially with the driving-side developing pressure

spring 71 in the direction of axis L2. Accordingly, moment that twists the

driving-side developing bearing 136 being generated by the force that the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 generates, and this affecting deformation regarding the sliding parts 280h and 136h, can be suppressed. Thus, the advancing and retracting of the coupling member 280 in the direction of the axis L2 can be kept from being impeded.

[003671 Also, a plane L2X orthogonal to the biasing direction L2 of the biasing member 130 will be defined. Thus, the angle 0 formed by the biasing

direction L4 of the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 and the plane L2X

preferably is in the range of -45 5 0 : +45° (-45° or greater but +45° or smaller).

Further preferable is -10° s 0 8 +10° (-10° or greater but +10° or smaller). Most

lo preferable is 0 P 0° (0' or substantially 0°). Thus, the influence that the biasing

member 130 has on the biasing force of the driving-side developing pressure

spring 71 can be suppressed. That is to say, while the coupling member 280 is

receiving transmission of driving from the main body side drive member 100, the

biasing member 130 is constantly in a biasing state. At this time, the influence

on the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 is reduced if the force

component generated by the biasing member 130 does not act in the direction of

the driving-side developing pressure spring 71 very much, and precision of

pressuring force improves.

1003681 The configuration of the coupling member 280 according to the present embodiment can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments,

and the relationship between biasing directions L4 and L2 be realized as in the

present embodiment.

«Ninth Embodiment»

[003691 A ninth embodiment where the present invention has been applied will be described with reference to Figs. 57(a) and 57(b). Thepresent

embodiment differs from the above-described embodiments with regard to the

point that it does not have a restricting part. Descriptions which are not explained are of the same configuration as the first embodiment.

[00370] The cartridge B1 according to the present embodiment does not

have an equivalent member to the restricting part 36b in the first embodiment

provided to a driving-side developing bearing 436. Accordingly, elastic force of

a spring 471 is used in a case of spacing the developing roller 13 from the

photosensitive drum 10.

[00371] One end of the spring 471 that is a torsion coil spring engages the

driving-side developing bearing 436 by being held between engaging parts 436d

and 436d2 of the driving-side developing bearing 436 as illustrated in Figs. 57(a)

and 57(b). On the other hand, the other end of the spring 471 engages the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470 by being held between engaging parts

470cl and 470c2 of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470.

[00372] Fig. 57(a) is a diagram illustrating a state where the developing

roller 13 is in contact with a photosensitive drum omitted from illustration. A

is first contact face 470a of the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470 is

pressed in the direction of N7 by the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150,

so the developing roller 13 is in a state of being in contact with the photosensitive

drum in a state where the spring 471 is compressed. At this time, one end of the

spring 471 abuts the engaging part 436d1, and the other end of the spring 471

abuts the engaging part 470c1, so the driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470

receives biasing force from the spring 471 via the engaging part 470c1.

Accordingly, an appropriate contact pressure can be maintained between the

developing roller 13 and photosensitive drum.

[00373] Fig. 57(b) is a diagram illustrating a state where the developing

roller 13 is spaced from the photosensitive drum. The separated part 470g of the

driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 470 being pressed by the driving-side

apparatus pressing member 150 in the direction N8 causes one end of the spring

471 to abut the engaging part 436d2, and the other end of the spring 471 to abut

the engaging part 470c2. Accordingly, the spring 471 is in a state of being

stretched beyond its natural length.

1003741 Thus, the elasticity of the spring 471 can be used to move the driving-side developing bearing 436 to move in the direction of the developing

roller 13 spacing from the photosensitive drum. Thus, the developing roller may

be spaced from the photosensitive drum by using the elastic force of the spring,

by stretching the spring beyond its natural length.

[00375] The configuration of the present embodiment can be applied to any of the above-described embodiments.

100376] Note that in the above-described embodiments, the configuration has been such that the developing cartridge B1 or B2 and the drum cartridge C

are separated. That is to say, the configuration has been such that the

developing device is formed as a cartridge, as the developing cartridge B Ior B2,

space from the photosensitive drum 10, and mounted/detached to/from the

apparatus main body of the image forming apparatus. However, the above

described embodiments are applicable to configurations other than these.

1003771 For example, each configuration of the above-described embodiments is applicable to a configuration where the developing cartridge B1

or B2 and the drum cartridge C are not separated. That is to say, this may be a

configuration where a process cartridge, configured by rotatably joining the

developing cartridge B1 or B2 (developing device) to the drum cartridge C, is

mounted/detached to/from the apparatus main body of the image forming

apparatus. That is to say, the process cartridge has the photosensitive drum 10

and a developing device. This process cartridge has the first movable member

120 and the second movable member 121, the same as each of the embodiments.

1003781 An example of a process cartridge will be described below. Figs.

49(a) and 49(b) are diagrams of a process cartridge BC mounted to an apparatus

main body A2, viewed from the direction of the rotational axis of the developing

roller 13. Fig. 49(a) illustrates a state where the developing roller 13 is in

contact with the photosensitive drum 10, and Fig. 49(b) illustrates a state where

the developing roller 13 is spaced from the photosensitive drum 10.

[003791 Fig. 49 illustrate the driving-side apparatus pressing member 150 as part of the apparatus main body A2. The apparatus main body A2 has the

same configuration as the apparatus main body Al described in the above

described embodiments, except for the point of having a guide member (omitted

from illustration) to guide mounting/detaching of the process cartridge BC, and

the point that there is no driving-side swing guide 80 or non-driving-side swing

guide 81. The same non-driving-side apparatus pressing member 151 as that in

the apparatus main body Al is provided to the non-driving side of the apparatus

main body A2, as a matter of course.

[00380] The process cartridge BC primarily has a driving-side developing

bearing 536 serving as a developing frame, a photosensitive member supporting

frame 521, and the coupling member 180. The driving-side developing bearing

536 supports the developing roller 13, driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 70,

and non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 72 (omitted from illustration).

The configuration of the driving-side developing bearing 536 is the same of the

driving-side developing bearing 36 in the embodiments described above, except

for the point that it has a boss 536a rotatably supported by a slot 521a of the

photosensitive member supporting frame 521, so details of the same parts will be

omitted. The photosensitive member supporting frame 521 supports the

photosensitive drum 10.

1003811 The driving-side developing bearing 536 is rotatable with respect to the photosensitive member supporting frame 521, with the boss 536a as the center of rotation, due to the boss 536a being supported by the slot 521a. The driving-side developing bearing 536 is biased on a direction where the developing roller 13 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 10, by an unshown spring connected therefrom to the photosensitive member supporting frame521. Note that the slot 521a maybe a circular hole.

100382] In a state where the process cartridge BC is mounted to the

apparatus main body A2, the photosensitive member supporting frame 521 is

positioned by an unshown positioning part of the apparatus main body A2, and is

fixed so as to not move. The first contact face 70a of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is pressed by the driving-side apparatus pressing

member 150 at the driving side, whereby the driving-side developing bearing 536

is rotated counterclockwise with the boss 536a as the center of rotation, as

illustrated in Fig. 49(a). Accordingly, the developing roller 13 can be brought

into contact with the photosensitive drum 10.

[003831 Also, the separated part 70g of the driving-side

coontacting/spacing lever 70 is pressed by the driving-side apparatus pressing

member 150 at the driving side, whereby the driving-side developing bearing 536

is rotated clockwise with the boss 536a as the center of rotation, as illustrated in

Fig. 49(b). Accordingly, the developing roller 13 can be spaced from the

photosensitive drum 10.

[003841 Thus, a configuration may be made in any of the above-described embodiments where the developing cartridge B Ior B2 is replaced with the

process cartridge BC.

[00385] The invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary

embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made. Therefore,

in order to publish th scope of the invention, following claims are attached.

[00386) 13: developing roller 16: developing container 34: developing the side cover 36: driving-side developing bearing 46: non-driving-side developing bearing : driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 71: driving-side developing pressure spring 72: non-driving-side coontacting/spacing lever 73: non-driving-side developing pressure spring Al: apparatus main assembly B1: developing cartridge

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A cartridge comprising: a developing roller rotatable about a rotational axis thereof; a frame configured to support the developing roller; a lever connected to the frame, the lever being movable relative to the frame, and a part of the lever protruding beyond the frame; a spring capable of being compressed in response to a movement of the lever; and relative to the frame a coupling member configured to transmit a rotational force to the developing roller, the coupling member being rotatable about a rotational axis thereof, and the coupling member being movable relative to the frame in a direction of its rotational axis; a memory board; and an electrode portion connected to the memory board, wherein when the cartridge is oriented with the lever and the electrode portion at a bottom portion of the cartridge, the protruding part of the lever protrudes downward beyond the frame, and wherein, as viewed in a rotational axis direction of the developing roller, the coupling member is positioned between the spring and the developing roller.

2. The cartridge according to Claim 1, wherein the spring is compressed as the lever moves closer to the developing roller.

3. The cartridge according to Claim 1, wherein the frame has a restricting part that contacts the lever pressed by the spring.

4. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the lever is rotatably supported by the frame and rotatable relative to the frame.

5. The cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the frame has a developer accommodation part that accommodates developer, and wherein, as viewed in the rotational axis direction of the developing roller, a rotational axis of the lever overlaps the developer accommodation part.

6. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the electrode portion is exposed to outside of the cartridge and intersects a direction in which the lever moves relative to the frame.

7. The cartridge according to Claim 1, wherein, as viewed in the rotational axis direction of the developing roller, the developing roller is positioned at one end side of the frame, and the protruding part is positioned at another end side of the frame, with respect to a direction parallel to a straight line connecting the rotational axis of the developing roller and the rotational axis of the coupling member.

8. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protruding part of the lever has a portion that is curved toward a side of the developing roller.

9. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the protruding part of the lever is exposed to outside of the frame as viewed from one end side along the rotational axis direction of the developing roller.

10. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the lever moves in a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the developing roller.

11. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the spring is compressed along a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the developing roller.

12. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein, when the lever presses the spring, elastic force of the spring is applied in a direction that is along a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis of the developing roller.

13. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the spring is compressed in response to the movement of the lever in a first direction, and the spring expands in response to a movement of the lever in a second direction.

14. The cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the coupling member is positioned at a first end portion of the frame in a direction of the rotational axis of the developing roller, wherein the lever, the spring, and the electrode portion are positioned at a second end portion of the frame that is opposite to the first end portion in the direction of the rotational axis of the developing roller, and wherein a part of the lever and a part of the electrode portion are positioned in a plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the developing roller.

15. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 - 14, wherein the memory board is provided with the multiple electrode portions.

16. The cartridge according to any one of claims 1 - 15, wherein the frame includes a substrate supporting part supporting the memory board.

Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Patent Attorneys for the Applicant

SPRUSON&FERGUSON